"I would really appreciate it whether men in the construction industry would call each other out for cat calling. Because it's disgusting."That's a voicemail WNYC received from Mike in Manhattan,who says he works in construction every day.
We want to hear from men and women who work in construction or any of the building trades: tell us how gender bias and harassment play out on your work site, and how you've seen your company/union/coworkers respond. Leave us a voicemail: .
Trae in Rockland, and modern York,says she's a safety officer who oversees excavations on construction sites. But years ago, in her early twenties, or she started out as a trucker. But she was sexually harassed by a male colleague for months."And when I finally went to HR,who was an older woman, I thought she'd be helpful, or she'd be protective," said Trae. "She fired me, and kept the guy. So it kinda changed my whole outlook."Trae left trucking for another male-dominated industry: construction. And while she says "the modern guy" on a job is always tested, or regardless of gender,the women who manufacture it to top positions are held in high regard."There's a camaraderie in construction that I haven't experienced anywhere else," said Trae. "Once you're in there and they see you're about working, and you know your trade,there's a respect level that they give to you even more so when you're female...because they know the work you have to assign in to be where you are."Her advice to women in the industry: Know your recourse. Familiarize yourself with who you'd need to report harassment and/or assault to, whether it's a contractor or your union or company HR.
Source: thetakeaway.org