Master electrician tussles with misogyny

by Chanel Beckford

After decades in her field a master electrician said she deals with racism and sexism.

Shelley Harding-Smith is a trustee with the Greater Essex County District School Board. The mother of three said when she was young she followed her father who was also a master electrician, on many work sites. She said by age 10 she was familiar with electrical equipment.

She said her education, which includes a three year apprenticeship and an industrial technician diploma, allows her to work with electronics and robotics. After graduation from St. Clair College she wrote a government certification to become a journeyman.

A journeyman is someone who works under a master electrician, and can train apprentices in a licensed field. They can also own and contract businesses. Harding-Smith can do residential, industrial and commercial work.

She said once she moved from under her father’s mentorship she was not welcomed in the field, especially during her apprenticeship. Where the other students did not accept her because she is a minority.  And made it apparent she did not belong. Towards the ending of her apprenticeship, she said they saw she was capable of doing the work. Smith said the other students recognized she was studious because she did not depend on them.

“I was somewhat annoyed by the fact they felt I had no place in the skilled trade. I am constantly having to prove that I can do the work,” said Harding-Smith.

Harding-Smith said men have made sexual passes at her. She said when she was touched inappropriately she would tell them to stop, then would remove their hand. if it continued she reported it to the officials.

“If I would have been a white woman the consequences would have been a bit harsher. I am not painting everybody with the same paintbrush because some people did respect me,” said Harding-Smith.

She said she received unfair treatment from unionized members along with managers and supervisors. Her colleagues told her she was hired because of minority quotas.  Though Harding-Smith tussles with racism and misogyny within her field, she continues to work as an electrician.

Kim Guthrie has been an electrician for 20 years and works at Ford Motor Company.

Guthrie said he has always wanted to be an electrician and his favorite part of the job is troubleshooting. At college he studied electronics, applied for an apprenticeship and worked there for four years.

Kim Jones, a professor at St. Clair College who teaches electrical technique, said he has been teaching for six years and prior to that he worked as an electrician at General Chemical in Amherstburg.

“Of all the skilled trades out there it is the most popular. Everyone needs an electrician. It is probably one of the best opportunities as it relates to apprenticeship opportunities,” said Jones.

Jones said only 5 per cent of the students in his class are female. He said females are able to handle this field despite the physicality of the job. He said there is no difference between the work ethic of the sexes and females can compete in the field at the same level as men.

“If they go out there and prove themselves their counterparts will respect them for that. In the trades I have no problem working alongside females,” said Jones.

He said when you get into the trade it is not about whether you’re male or female, it is about the performance on the job.

Jones teaches an entry level two-semester course. He said this helps student’s gain employment. After completing the entry-level course students have to enroll in an apprenticeship which lasts four years. After the apprenticeship Jones said students can apply for their certification of qualification. He said students must score 70 per cent or above to become a licensed electrician across Canada.

He said the apprenticeship tuition is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. He said tuition is roughly $3,175 and there are three levels in the apprenticeship. Level one costs $400 while level two and level three cost $500 for each session.

There are four different types of electricians: residential, commercial, journeymen and master electricians. Though their tasks vary there is no difference between a man or a woman on the job, as long as they are capable of doing the work.