Apprentices speak out

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The last few decades of the twentieth century marked significant changes in organized labor and apprenticeship programs in the United States. As the twenty-first century approached, skilled trade union apprenticeship programs faced challenges, including declining union membership and pressure to diversify. Ensuring the inclusion of women and minorities in registered apprenticeship has been a recognized issue among policymakers. The author conducted a research study to address the lack of meaningful access for women in predominantly male-oriented skilled trade apprenticeship programs. This investigation focused on the experiences of five women and examined three key components: application and entry, on-the-job training, and working relationships with journey persons. The study aimed to identify barriers that restrict women from becoming accomplished apprentices, instances of discrimination, experiences of inappropriate sexual bias, and the expectations women have when entering these programs. The findings target women, educators, and industry professionals to raise awareness of the obstacles women face in skilled trade apprenticeships and emphasize the need for further research in this area.