Female Plumbers
Plumbing is an industry that has long been dominated by men. However, over the years, women have made major strides in becoming a part of this male-dominated industry. In fact, women now make up 1.5% of the plumbing workforce in the United States. This is a huge number considering that 50 years ago, this figure was practically nonexistent.
While it is still a far cry from equality, it is a good sign that women have been making headway in the plumbing industry. This has been mainly due to the work of a few trailblazers that have helped to make the profession more appealing to females.
Whether it is because they are more compassionate or they are more nurturing, there are many reasons why women tend to excel in the plumbing trade. It is because of these qualities that make them great at working with people, as well as being able to diagnose problems quickly and accurately.
One such woman who made a name for herself in the trade was Lillian Ann Baumbach. Known to her fans as “The Pretty Plumber,” she was the first woman to pass the Master Plumber’s exam in 1951. She was also a popular pin-up model who made appearances on multiple TV shows and was interviewed by Walter Cronkite.
Famous Female Plumbers
Growing up in Arlington, Virginia as the daughter of a master plumber, she learned the ins and outs of the trade by assisting her father on his various jobs during the summers. She took the Master Plumber’s test when she was 21, and passed it with flying colors. It was an incredible accomplishment at a time when most women were relegated to housewife duties.
It was not long before she started getting calls for work, and soon enough, Baumbach was running her own plumbing business. She was very successful and grew her business to the point where she had employees and even an apprentice program. Her story is a great inspiration to women everywhere.
Another famous female plumber is Jane Withers, who became well-known for her portrayal of overall-clad, smart alecky Josephine the Plumber in the Comet cleanser commercials in the 1960s and 1970s. She was a child star who went on to become an adult actor and singer, but she continued her role as the beloved character of Josephine in several movies and even had a television series.
Withers’s portrayal of a tough, yet caring plumber opened the door for more women to enter the field. It is because of these women’s hard work and commitment to their careers that there are now so many more female plumbers. Women are now encouraged to pursue their dreams and can get the training they need to be successful. The Commusoft conference is a great way for women who are interested in this career to meet other females in the industry and learn from them. This is a wonderful opportunity for women who are eager to start their own plumbing business or want to improve their skills.