Nowmoreandmorewomenaretrying a careerintradeonforsize, andthey'refindingthesky's thelimitbothpersonallyandprofessionally.
MelissaRierastandsjustfourfoot 11 butsaysshe's found a careerthatmakesherfeellargerthanlife.
CORBINTREESo I tooksometimeofftryingtofigureoutwhat I wasdoing, and I quicklyrealizedthat I wantedtoworkwithmyhands.
MyrtleWilson, singlemomoftwo.
I thoughtyou'd neverbreakfreeoftheneedtoworktwojobsuntilshestumbledintoconstruction, wasworkingsevendays a week, killingmyselfandandjustwarmingmeetingand a childhoodfriendofmysaid, Well, whatdoyouthinkaretryingyourhandatconstruction?
ElissaandMyrtlearetwoof a growingnumberofwomenforwhom a clearingtradehasproventobetheideallandmakingreallygoodlivingineveryyearyouget a payraise.
I don't haveyourpension, youhaveyourannuity, youhavemedicalbenefits.
Inanagewherewomencanstruggleforwageequality, thetradescouldbe a terrificoption.
Ifyougointotheorganizedtradeunionsas a woman, you'reinthetop 20% ofearnedincomeforallwomenintheUnitedStates.
Veronikaenteredthefieldin 1979 andmanagedtobalance a husbandandfiveChildren.
Withthecareerisanelectrician's in.
Todaysheholdsherown $5 millionfirm.
Yousaidit's easiertoraise a buildingandraise a family.
Oh, it's 10 timeseasier.
IfyouconveyHQ a cakeandfollowdirections, youhavethepotentialis a womantobecomeoneofthebestcraftspeopleinthetradesintheUnitedStates?
I amsweating, allright, I wasn't sosure.
Itcouldbeaseasyasbaking a cake.
Butthen I visitedthewomenandknewthatstandsfornontraditionalemploymentforwomen, anorganizationcommittedtohelpingwomenlandjobintrade.
Theygaveme a crashcourseincarpentry, trainingmehowtouse a circularsawlikethehardestpartaboutworkingtrade, accordingtothewomenwespokewith, includingothersthattheycandothejob.
Mostoftheguys, oncetheyseethatyou're a workerandyougetinthosetrenchesrightalongsidethem.
Inthepastthreeyears, we'vehardabundanceofwomenbecauseofhow I feelaboutwomeninthebusiness, and I thinkthatthereactuallymoreefficientthansomemeninthebusinesstoday, That's musictotheearsofHallieCampaign, whosaysshestruggledforyearstofindherplaceinhighschool.
I neverdidthatgreat.
My I struggledwithlearningdisabilities, and I foundthat I learned a lotofthings.
Handson.
Nowhardatwork, constructing a new 25 storycancerhospital.
She's responsibleforhelpingRaythebeams.
Halleysays.
Thingsarelookingupway, wayup.
I think a lotofourviewerswillbewatching, andtheywillbeattractedtosomeofthesamethingsyouwereattractedto, whichisnotgoingtoanofficeeveryday, goingintoanofficeeveryday.
I likethat I canwakeup, and I don't havetoputonmakeuporimpressanyone.
I neverknewwhat I wantedtodo.
Andthenwhen I starteddoingthis, I wasjustsoexcitedbecauseitwassomethingthat I couldputmy, myentirebodyinmyentiremindintoittobe.
Paper.
Yeah, andtobebigforyeah, exactlylike I lovewhat I do.
And I think I'llalwaysloveit.
Susie, I lovethesawesome.
Thesewomenweresoimpressive.
And I wasscaredwhen I wasthereintheirschoollearninghowtodoit.
Butwait, I madeyou, I madeyouon.
If I coulddothisandthereishopeforanybody, I thinkthisisnotmyforte.
Makeupto, like, $60 ineversuch a living.
I mean, fiveyearsout, youcouldmake 54 60 60 bucksanhour.
You'vebeeninretail, retailorinchildcare.
I mean, thisis a lifechangingawaytodowork.
And I loveit.
They'restilloutnumberedbymen.
Sowhatiftheysaythefeelingislikethat?
Missfearsthem, youknow.
Whatisit?
Dothemenhassleyou?
DotheyharassedyouwhentheywerelikeNo, youknow, firstofall, they'retrainedbytheunionnottodothat, butit's come a longway.
Ifyoucandothework, theyrespectyou.
A lotofthesemen, theyhavedaughtersorsistersorwives, andtheydon't giveyou a hardtimethewayyoumightexpect.
Soyoumightbreak a nailortothat.
Becareful.
Allright.
AllrightintheNewYorkCityarea.
YouyousaidthewomenwhoareinterestedthesetradecareerscancheckoutnewthenontraditionalemploymentforwomenorganizationandoutsideofNewYork, womenshouldcheckouttheDepartmentofLabor's websitefor a statebystatebreakdownonhowtopursue a careerinthetrade.