Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
FM 100's Jill Atwood ReportingThrow away the lesson plans and the stethoscope and make room for the hard hat and safety glasses. In today's Smart Woman, Jill Atwood from our sister station FM100, tells us why more and more women are moving into jobs traditionally dominated by men.
lf you listen closely, you'll hear it. No, not the welding machine, it's young women hitting the glass ceiling.
"We want them to not just pursue dead-end jobs, we want them to have the opportunity to pursue jobs that have a future a career.
Most of these ladies are looking for something more -- more money, more security, more respect.
Jacklyn Tonge is studying welding, she has a new job lined up already.
Jacklyn Tonge, Student, Davis Applied Technology College: "Before, I worked in a drycleaners for five years, and I'm a single mom and so I just needed something that would give me good money and lots of possibilities for jobs. Yeah, it's worked out really well for me."
Davis Applied Technology college is looking to break down the barriers for women with non-traditional job training. From welders to machinists to mechanics, these ladies can make what the men make, up to thousands of dollars more.
Jeneece Black, Davis Applied Technology College: "It's an excellent first step for them. It breaks them into industry. Our classrooms are set up like industry and they have a chance to work in an environment where there is a majority of males in the classroom. And it's hands on so they are doing projects like they would be doing in the workplace."
Becky Card is a power systems mechanic for the city of Bountiful, thanks to her diesel mechanics course. She's not intimidated by her male colleagues.
Becky Card, Power Systems Mechanic: "You have to have a very thick skin and have to be forceful when you know something's right you just have to push until you get your way."
She embraces the challenge and her big paycheck.
Women typically do work in jobs that pay less for various reasons. Take a look at these numbers from the Census Bureau. In Utah, men make on average just over $40,300 a year. In sharp contrast, women make just over $27,500 a year. Utah Colleges and universities are looking to even things out through recruiting and expansion of programs typically dominated by men.
