Hi MS, Little doubt that women have an unnecessarily hard time working in the trades. How to fix ? Improvements occurring , but at a glacial pace.
Another problem with the trades is the education and apprenticeship system itself. It is outdated and inefficient. There is no reason why most of the trades could not be taught as a 3 year course with increasing pracs as the course progresses , and a 1 year internship , if needed , afterwards. Can always be subsidized with bursaries if there are specific skills shortages.
I think that a mixed gender population much more likely , and much more likely to do better , with that sort of system. A lot of trades could start taking students at age 16.
On skills and training in general , I am a heretic. The university system needs to be reined in. Their whole reason for being, doesn't need to be vocational , but as clumsy as they were , the libs attempts to control the types of courses , not completely without merit.
