By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SHE may be the only girl in her trade school class but apprentice joiner Ebony Griffin just wants fairness for both genders.
The 22-year-old from Beaconsfield dabbled in social sciences and media at university before she took the plunge at her dream job as a carpenter.
“It’s been the longest thing I’ve stuck at in my life and I’ve been really lucky so far,” Ebony said.
“The family business I work for are all about work ethic, skill and willingness to learn – my gender didn’t come into it.”
But that hasn’t been the case for some of Ebony’s fellow tradeswomen.
“Because there is such a low percentage of women in carpentry some employers still have it stuck in their heads that we can’t do the job like a man can.
“But that’s just not the case and, especially in my field, I think I sometimes pay more attention to detail with window fittings than the guys do because I’m very picky and, after all, it’s about a quality finished product,” she said.
When it comes to physical strength Ebony said there’s always someone willing to help and that her stature and build has never been a problem at work.
“We had to lift a huge window and door into a truck the other day and everyone just helps out even the truck driver, so physical strength shouldn’t come into employment either,” Ebony said.
Ebony has worked for Redwood Joinery for the past two years after landing the job straight from her pre-apprenticeship.
“I’m treated like any other employee and I’m really lucky because I know girls who have struggled with employment in this field,” she said.
“In one case because her name was Dani there was some confusion with the name and when she attended the job interview she was turned away, they said ‘oh we thought you were a boy’.”
“That’s disheartening and I can’t wait for the day when it’s normal to see a girl in tradie’s clothes and for people to not have to ask questions. I think that’s slowly happening.”
Ebony, who is keen on equality in the workforce, is also aware of reverse discrimination.
“You can flip it the other way and wonder if sometimes girls get nominated for industry awards and win just because they are female when a male could be doing just as good a job,” Ebony said.
“I have been nominated for Master Builders Joinery Apprentice of the Year and sometimes I look over at other boys in class who are smashing something out that I’m struggling with and I think why weren’t they nominated for the award?”
“Everything should be placed on merit and I’d hate for men in the field to start to feel like girls are taking home awards that they don’t deserve all because of gender,” she said.
“Three girls have taken home that award in the past three years and my teacher said my sex might work against me in this instance.”
Ebony hopes other girls will also have the courage to pursue jobs in a male dominated workforce.
“Just go for it,” she said.
“Half the time we show them up, anyway.”
