Why women are better welders?
6th July 2022
Shalini Ghose
Welding is not everyone’s cup of tea. It needs hard
work, determination, and devotion to weld two metals together to provide them a purpose. This
combination of arts and science has been performed by males of the society since 400BC.
Many types of welding have evolved ever since, and it
has become one of the most important aspects of day-to-day lives. Another thing that evolved in the
welding
industry is believing
that only males are tough enough to handle the job.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women
account for 5% of the welding industry in 2021, compared to only 3.8% in 2020. The significant shift
in data proves how women are breaking the norms and choosing this non-traditional career path to
pursue their dreams.
Solveig Erikstad is one of the first known women welders
appointed by Ulstein in 1974 and has served the industry with love, passion, and excellence for almost
30 years.
Along with her, many successful women
welders
came into
the picture around the same time to show the power and strength of womanhood in the pipeline welding
industry and other industries.
Welding is not a gender-specific role, but there is a
certain element that every woman is providing to the welding industry. Women have a very different way
of leading thoughts, emotions, and energies, and hence they show a very different approach toward
traditionally male-associated jobs.
Ever since their evolution, women have been known to fix
things. They fix everything with their emotional intelligence and their solution-oriented mindset.
Women are bringing their innovations to the welding industry and performing the tasks efficiently.
Not that men are any less than women in the field, but a
role that was initially connected with men, is experiencing advancement with women joining the
workforce.
A girl is nothing less than a soldier in the welding
field and can manage all the aspects of the on-field and off-field tasks.
Famous Women in Welding Industry
Many women have showcased their talent and achieved a
position in welding. Some of the popular women welders are -
-
Lena Dotson, aka Carmen Electrode - She is not only doing a perfect job as a welder but is
also inspiring millions of young girls to follow their dream in the welding profession
regardless of social norms.
-
Elizaveta, aka The Russian Welding Girl - The Russian welding girl is putting gender-specific
role mindset down by pursuing welding as a career in a nation known for its rigid
gender-associated career expectations.
-
Florence DiTullio, aka “Woo Woo” Winnie the Welder - Florence DiTullio is a woman who helped her
nation through WWII with her skills as a welder.
-
Eugenia Powell Deas and Gladys Theus - These women welders not only fought through WWII but
also fought racism and proved that skills know no race.
So, if you, too, are a girl who is fascinated by the
concept of welding, just wear your welding helmet, and win the welding industry with the power of your
passion.