The world is witnessing many changes in the way things are done, and one of these is having more women break into male-dominated fields. With people letting go of traditional preconceptions and giving people work based on their abilities rather than sticking to gender roles, this change brings hope for women drawn to fields considered ‘male’. To get a few ideas of how you can succeed in a male-dominated field, have a look at these five tips.
Focus on Your Performance
At the end of the day, your performance is what matters the most. Focus on improving and getting better at what you do by practicing and learning new skills as often as you can. For example, knowing that a machine tool is a machine that’s used in machining and shaping metal and other rigid materials is important knowledge if you’re in the relevant field. Don’t let imposter syndrome get you down, as this tends to cloud your thoughts and may negatively affect your performance. Note that experiencing this syndrome does not have to get in the way of you doing a good job.
Keep an Open Mind
It may be hard to keep going at first because there are still people who want to stick to traditional ideas of gender roles. Keeping an open mind that you will encounter these people and knowing that you don’t have to bow to their beliefs will save you a lot of stress. Make sure you learn the basics of the trade and stay competent at all times as this will help you excel. Stay objective and don’t let negativity get through to you as it will negatively affect both your wellbeing and performance.
Join Clubs and Groups
With more women joining traditionally male fields, it is possible to find or form groups consisting of women who aim to guide and support each other. Meet up often and share experiences and concerns, and this will help you avoid feeling like you are alone in an uphill battle. This will also enable you to enjoy doing what you love and when you fully immerse yourself in your profession, success will no doubt follow you. With women making up 19% of the total number of people who own motorcycles in 2018 in the United States, there are bound to be enough women in the industry you are in to form a connection based on a common point.
Try Journaling
Journaling is an effective way of dealing with bothersome issues, and so if you find yourself going through problems, give journaling a try. Write down your thoughts and experiences, and it will be easier for you to deal with them. Don’t dwell on the negatives alone, though, make sure to highlight breakthroughs you get and new things you learn. Change with the times as is necessary in order to stay relevant and grow. Take the time to let negative emotions out so you can enjoy being in the profession you chose.
Follow Your Passion
It’s hard to find a well-balanced person who is not passionate about the work they do. Don’t let the fact that a field you would like to be in is a male-dominated one keep you from following your dreams. The fact that you can make a living doing something you enjoy should be motivation enough for you to go down that path. The interior design industry, for example, generates $10 billion in revenue each year. If you feel like you would enjoy being in this field, therefore, there is nothing stopping you apart from yourself.
As a woman, you now have the ability to do what you want with no fear thanks to the change that modern times have inspired. While there is still some way to go, join the women who are trailblazing the way into careers that their predecessors could not play a role in.
