Category Archives: Working Women & Society

Cultural information and the role of working women in our society.

Bogi’s Garage: Build of a 1957 Chevy Pickup

Leave a Comment

Stand aside Guys… The Ladies Got This!👩‍🏭

Back in 2003, Arc-Zone recognized that women’s contributions to the welding industry were widely overlooked… So we created the Carmen Electrode blog to bring the amazing work of female fabricators around the world to the forefront. To this day, we love to shine a light on like-minded women who are driven to achieve similar goals.

Bogi of @bogisgarage is an exceptional woman, who started a movement #ChevyMontage in which she celebrates and encourages women of all ages to pursue a career in the automotive industry. Throughout this journey (aka “The Build”), women from all over the US are mentoring less experienced ladies and providing them with a hands on learning opportunity to build a car together.

Picture credit: @bogisgarage

The build consists of restoring a 1957 Chevy pickup and installing a M5 BMW Motor making it as unique as the women who are working on it. All the work will be completed right from Bogi’s #allgirlsgarage!
Follow the entire build at @bogisgarage or on Youtube and stay up to date as it makes its way up to the SEMA Show in November. If you know a woman who may be interested, Tag her below and let’s get the message out there! And if you are in search of Women Gear visit our website www.Arc-Zone.com.

Today’s Rosie is a New York City Bridge Welder!

Leave a Comment

Not only do we like writing about the amazing women that work in the welding industry, we enjoy reading about other women in the industry!

A Day in the Grueling Life of a New York City Bridge Welder

What it’s like to be one of the few women maintaining New York’s iconic bridges.

Moloney, who is 29, is working as a journeyman and is one of the few female welders (out of a crew of about 100) on the bridge project. She grew up in New Jersey and—thanks to an interest in sculpture—took welding classes in Manhattan’s Chinatown before holding down various gigs as a tattoo artist, freelance illustrator, and café manager. Then she headed to trade school for welding. There, at Apex Tech in Long Island City, she head about the union, Brooklyn’s Ironworkers Local 361. There was a test coming up, and she went for it.

http://www.citylab.com/navigator/2016/05/a-day-in-the-grueling-life-of-a-new-york-city-bridge-welder/481656/

Let us know if you know any amazing women in the welding industry! Or if you are one  yourself!

How do we Expose more Women to Welding?

Leave a Comment

According to NBC news, only 3% of professional welders in the U.S. are women. What’s the reason for the shortage of women welders? According to professional welder Caitlin Rude: “I don’t think that there’s a big difference between men’s and women’s work. I think that there’s a big difference between those who are dedicated and passionate about welding and those who aren’t.” 

In this video, Kalei Kipp, a female high school welding student from Pennsylvania meets with Caitlin Rude to discuss what it’s like to be a female welder.

What are your thoughts on the shortage of women welders? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

From Car Problem to Welder

Leave a Comment
Pamela Richardson: Woman Welder

Pamela Richardson: Woman Welder / Professor

Over twenty years ago Pamela Richardson was having car problems and the family mechanic, Uncle Walter, was busy. When Pamela’s car broke down (again) across the street from a Mom and Pop garage, she must of thought it was fate… the guy checked under the hood and said he could fix the car by the next day—for $450. She was so proud of herself for taking care of her own business until her uncle told her she’d been ripped off. The mechanic had installed $20 thermostat, a repair that with her uncle’s help she could have done herself.

Uncle Walter told Pamela she better learn how to do things like this for herself or she would continue to get taken advantage of… advice that resonates with any Do-It-Yourselfer!

“That very week I went to the nearest skill center,” she said.  Pamela enrolled in an automotive repair program where she learned that in order to be a master mechanic she’d have to know how to weld as well. A quick tour of the welding department and she was ready to sign up.
Continue reading →

Is Welding Women’s Work?

Leave a Comment

Alexandra TIG WeldingMost women welders I know often say that when folks find out they are welders, they are surprised.  Women don’t weld, right?  I mean a girl!?  Sadly there are many out there (men and women) who think that welding isn’t a good career choice for women.  Just recently Cameron wrote to us:

Hello, I am a 33 year old woman and have been thinking of welding. I hear very mixed reviews. Some people tell me the industry has changed enough that it’s relatively clean work that doesn’t cause too much wear and tear to your muscles and body.  Others say it’s dirty and grimy and you have to be in tight spaces welding over your head sometimes and that it is very tough on a   petite girl.  I wonder what your thoughts on this are?

We’ve written a lot about this in the past, but it never hurts to address this again.  Maybe until folks get it right–welding is a fine career for a woman!

A lot of women wonder what it will be like working in a predominately male environment.  Here’s some tips: Continue reading →