Susanne Haus, President of the Chamber of Crafts and Trades of Frankfurt/Main (Photo: © Chamber of Crafts and Trades of Frankfurt-Rhein-Main)
Read aloud:
10 May 2023
Only one in five skilled trades businesses is headed by a woman, and the proportion of women in the organization is even lower. We discuss the reasons with Susanne Haus, President of the Frankfurt Chamber of Crafts and Trades, and Anja Obermann, General Manager of the Rheinhessen Chamber of Crafts and Trades.
DHB: When you attend events organized by trade organizations, you can count the number of women on one hand. Don't you feel lonely?
House: Since I've always been one of the few women in the painting profession, a male-dominated trade, since my apprenticeship, I'm used to it. At least the issue of female representation is becoming more of a focus. What also strikes me, however, is the age structure. There's simply a lack of young people willing to get involved.
Obermann: There are two female managing directors and three female presidents among 53 chambers of skilled crafts. That speaks volumes – and applies to all other organizations as well. Men are much more likely to push their way into top management positions.
DHB: Are women failing in the face of the phalanx of “old white men”?
House: There are no specific reasons. Crafts are male-dominated in many sectors, so a high proportion of men automatically develops on committees. One approach would be to go beyond the typically female skilled trades—such as beauticians, confectioners, opticians, goldsmiths, and, more recently, undertakers—and encourage women as a chamber. This applies equally to volunteer work, but the general aim is to reach out to more young people. But for women in particular, we face a structural problem. Women generally have many other obligations beyond their careers, which leave them little time for volunteer work.
Obermann: Furthermore, men often approach tasks with a different level of self-confidence. The attitude "I can do this!" comes more naturally to them than to women. You usually have to address them directly to win them over. But this also involves removing structural barriers. Many women have a double burden: work AND home. This is especially true if they are younger and have children. Despite many counterexamples, this burden almost always remains solely in their hands. Volunteering would be a third challenge, which they first have to be able to reconcile.
The Chambers of Skilled Crafts in Germany - HWK Trier
Craft policy
The Chambers of Skilled Crafts in Germany - HWK Koblenz
DHB: What specific structural changes need to be made?
Obermann: If you look at the general conditions that we, as a skilled trades organization, cannot initially influence, then there is, for example, the childcare situation. It is a disaster in our region – and this can be applied to other regions as well. It's impossible to find a place for children under or over three years old – and the same problem starts again in elementary school. If kindergarten or school is canceled, mothers are the primary contact. There is a lack of full-day care.
Home: In principle, men could feel responsible for things other than they actually are. Unfortunately, the classic model is still often the man as the boss, while the businesswoman sits at the desk and manages everything – even though she is actually self-employed and on equal footing. This is somewhat more deeply entrenched in the trades than in other sectors, and it will probably take a while before that changes. Incidentally, the childcare situation doesn't change once the children have left home. Then it's often the parents who need additional care. Elder care also often falls to women.
DHB: Do women need to hit the table more?
House: Too often, women are still automatically assigned tasks or take them on themselves, instead of setting clear boundaries. Women need to put aside their guilty conscience when they no longer perform tasks. In reality, women find it difficult to delegate jobs and feel good about it.
Obermann: Many women navigate the tension between work, family, and volunteer work. They want to do everything perfectly. But then it's crucial to know their own limits: Women are usually among the first to overexert themselves.
DHB: Is there a lack of role models that could encourage young people to enter the skilled trades and consider a career there?
House: It's certainly a question of role models, but the underlying question is how we attract young talent to the skilled trades. There are special events like "Girl's Day" or "More Women in STEM Professions." But role models only help if they create points of contact and thus demonstrate the breadth of skilled trades. This applies not only to young women, but in general, which also helps counteract the shortage of skilled workers.
Obermann: For example, we've been demanding the reintroduction of manual arts as a school subject for ages. Politicians are always receptive to this idea because it teaches young people fundamental skills. Unfortunately, though, no action follows. Even if a young man or woman later becomes a lawyer, the ability to hammer a nail into a wall, learned in manual arts class, is never a disadvantage. But above all, it helps young people recognize whether they have an affinity for manual work. Role models who have followed this path are extremely helpful in this regard. Women, in particular, need to be shown and told again and again: "Look, it's possible!"
DHB: It sounds like it's just a question of how you approach things.
Obermann: Absolutely! The affinity for skilled trades or scientific professions is not genetic. International comparisons, for example, when we take the STEM sector, prove this. Germany is one of the countries where the proportion of women in these professions is particularly low. If this were a question of genes, it would have to be the same worldwide. Here in Mainz, there is a girls' high school, where the proportion of women taking science subjects is much higher than at co-ed schools. This means it's a matter of encouragement, telling girls, "Yes, you can do it!"
Haus: This needs to sink in with parents and teachers, especially teachers. When we try to implement career guidance at grammar schools, we still hear far too often: "We're the wrong place for that, we're a grammar school after all." Yet, the Hessian school law—and others—states that both academic and vocational education must be addressed in career guidance. But this still isn't happening at grammar schools. The two educational pathways remain on equal footing. We've drifted so far apart that while skilled trades have always functioned in the background, they're completely disconnected from public perception. At least I have the feeling that things are changing a bit now; skilled trades are receiving somewhat more attention again.
DHB: A study by the Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Business Research (ISME) confirms that women are more successful at starting businesses because they are significantly more risk-averse. What specific characteristics would you mention that are specific to women?
House: Indeed, women are more risk-averse in all areas, not just when it comes to larger investments. They generally start fewer businesses because they are less willing to take risks. This is a matter of social responsibility, which they assume for themselves, their families, and also for their employees.
Obermann: Many women often question whether they can compete at the forefront, whether they possess sufficient expertise. A network allows women to encourage each other and find role models to look up to. It's also important to remember that women are much more sensitive to external criticism. No matter what you do, there's always someone who will criticize it. Men often have a different sense of self-worth; women react very strongly to criticism. Here, too, the positive momentum from a network helps, encouraging them to continue and persevere.
DHB: There are strong networks for women in the skilled trades, such as the Women Entrepreneurs in the Skilled Trades.
House: That's true because women place a great deal of value on exchange. It's important for them to hear from others about how they've gone about it in order to optimize their own approach and minimize risk. I founded a women's network in my local chamber and focused on personal contact right from the invitation stage. I contacted women not by email, but by mail with a specially designed invitation – and the response was very positive. The key thing about a women's network is that they can exchange ideas in a safe environment. Now we have another event coming up, which we'll naturally be organizing together with the women entrepreneurs.
Obermann: This also encourages more women to join the network of women entrepreneurs. Generally, it's important to gain an overview of such networks in order to plan and implement focused initiatives. Experience shows that a regional focus is crucial, as very few people travel across the country for an event. Time is a significant factor given the many responsibilities women have. The key is that such platforms exist to then coordinate these regional activities.
DHB: Do we need more events?
Obermann: Events at all levels are clearly helpful. But it's also about understanding roles, which can't be changed through events alone. Take Girl's Day or the school internship. I would like to see everyone, boys and girls, exposed to various career paths during their school career. One of these should be skilled trades, so that they can truly gain an understanding of what it's like – regardless of gender-specific role models.
Haus: We need to start very early, even in kindergarten, to show boys and girls the many opportunities available to them. It's also important not to present gender roles in a stigmatized way. Children shouldn't be presented with specific role models from picture books. We're creating a picture book that incorporates various trades and crafts, allowing even the youngest children to play with it. The diversity of career options needs to be developed throughout their entire school career to highlight the opportunities, especially in the trades.
DHB is now also available digitally! Simply click here and register for the digital DHB!
Newsletter
Write a comment