Women in the Skilled Trades Face New Hurdles

The podcast explores the role of women in the skilled trades, particularly in light of President Trump's policies and their potential impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. NPR's Andrea Hsu shares insights from a tradeswomen conference and interviews with female apprentices, such as Kaylee Jensen, a former video editor turned plumber. The discussion highlights the underrepresentation of women in these fields (less than 5% nationwide) and the efforts of organizations like Chicago Women in Trades to promote equity by providing training and support. Trump's stance against DEI and the dismantling of policies promoting women in construction raise concerns about the future of these opportunities, despite a skilled labor shortage and evidence suggesting women excel in certain trades like welding.