I'm the only female joiner I know – trolls tell me to stay at home but there's a job perk women will love
JOIN ME I'm the only female joiner I know – trolls tell me to stay at home but there's a job perk women will love
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A LONELY female joiner has told how she's desperate to work with another woman on-site.
Jade McDonald, 30, has been on the tools for four years but has only ever done jobs alongside men.
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Female joiner Jade McDonald loves her job
Credit: Newsline Media
6
Jade McDonald is keen to see other women become joiners
Credit: Facebook/Jade McDonald
6
Jade was partner Kyle's first employee when he started his own business
Credit: Facebook/Jade McDonald
6
Jade says she'd take on a female apprentice, despite not needing staff
Credit: Newsline Media
She revealed she's been told she should stay at home, stared at and even branded a 'dyke' by a stranger.
But she admitted she's deliriously happy in her job and wants other women to follow in her footsteps.
And not having to do her hair and make-up before heading to work, like she had to in her old job, has been a bonus.
Jade, from Alford, Aberdeenshire, said: 'I'd love it if there was just one more woman to share the load. I've never seen another female joiner.
'We don't need any staff right now. But if a female came to me I would hire them in a heartbeat.
'I want to show that we can do this job as well as any man, and make it more normal. It's been such a male-orientated world for so long.'
Jade was an admin assistant until 2021 when her partner Kyle Sutherland, 28, started his own business and asked her to join as his only employee.
She was thrown in at the deep end as his apprentice joiner and project manager and the pair have worked seven day weeks ever since.
Jade immediately felt under pressure as she got weird looks from strangers whenever she popped into shops in her work clothes.
And she had to deal with patronising comments from other tradies, who reckoned she wouldn't be up to the job. But she decided enough was enough.
I was female debt collector - mortifying incident in man's flat made me quit
She said: 'It got to the point where I was terrified to go to the shop. I could feel eyes on me and it was just uncomfortable.
'And on a few jobs I've had comments like 'no woman should be here'. People will try and blame me for things that go wrong. They want to see me fail.
'But I stood up to one guy and that was the day I grew a backbone, because I'd had enough. I go to shop now and I just don't care anymore.'
Jade and Kyle have now taken on another four members of staff and the business is going from strength to strength.
She's picked up gongs for embracing diversity and inclusion at the Trades Awards.
But she made it clear that she doesn't expect any special treatment on building sites.
Jade said: 'A guy told me he was getting female portaloos for when quantity surveyors come out.
'But that's not what I want. I want to be an equal. I don't want a posh loo because I'm a female.
"People start thinking we're getting treated differently then.
6
Jade doesn't care if people judge her for being a female joiner
Credit: Newsline Media
6
Jade has picked up gongs at the Trades Awards
'We just want to go on site, not be stared at, not have these comments and just fit in.
"We just want to be comfortable and to be safe in these jobs.'
Jade is now considering going into schools and colleges to talk to women who fancy a career as joiners.
She added: 'I just want to normalise it. There are probably women out there who want to do it but are terrified to do it.
'It would mean the world to me if someone decided to become a joiner because of me.
'But we don't want to take over the world or the trade. We just want to feel equal and safe.'
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Jade McDonald loves her job and wants other women to follow in her footsteps JOIN ME I'm the only female joiner I know – trolls tell me to stay at home but there's a job perk women will love Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A LONELY female joiner has told how she's desperate to work with another woman on-site. Jade McDonald, 30, has been on the tools for four years but has only ever done jobs alongside men. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Female joiner Jade McDonald loves her job Credit: Newsline Media 6 Jade McDonald is keen to see other women become joiners Credit: Facebook/Jade McDonald 6 Jade was partner Kyle's first employee when he started his own business Credit: Facebook/Jade McDonald 6 Jade says she'd take on a female apprentice, despite not needing staff Credit: Newsline Media She revealed she's been told she should stay at home, stared at and even branded a 'dyke' by a stranger. But she admitted she's deliriously happy in her job and wants other women to follow in her footsteps. And not having to do her hair and make-up before heading to work, like she had to in her old job, has been a bonus. Jade, from Alford, Aberdeenshire, said: 'I'd love it if there was just one more woman to share the load. I've never seen another female joiner. 'We don't need any staff right now. But if a female came to me I would hire them in a heartbeat. 'I want to show that we can do this job as well as any man, and make it more normal. It's been such a male-orientated world for so long.' Jade was an admin assistant until 2021 when her partner Kyle Sutherland, 28, started his own business and asked her to join as his only employee. She was thrown in at the deep end as his apprentice joiner and project manager and the pair have worked seven day weeks ever since. Jade immediately felt under pressure as she got weird looks from strangers whenever she popped into shops in her work clothes. And she had to deal with patronising comments from other tradies, who reckoned she wouldn't be up to the job. But she decided enough was enough. I was female debt collector - mortifying incident in man's flat made me quit She said: 'It got to the point where I was terrified to go to the shop. I could feel eyes on me and it was just uncomfortable. 'And on a few jobs I've had comments like 'no woman should be here'. People will try and blame me for things that go wrong. They want to see me fail. 'But I stood up to one guy and that was the day I grew a backbone, because I'd had enough. I go to shop now and I just don't care anymore.' Jade and Kyle have now taken on another four members of staff and the business is going from strength to strength. She's picked up gongs for embracing diversity and inclusion at the Trades Awards. But she made it clear that she doesn't expect any special treatment on building sites. Jade said: 'A guy told me he was getting female portaloos for when quantity surveyors come out. 'But that's not what I want. I want to be an equal. I don't want a posh loo because I'm a female. "People start thinking we're getting treated differently then. 6 Jade doesn't care if people judge her for being a female joiner Credit: Newsline Media 6 Jade has picked up gongs at the Trades Awards 'We just want to go on site, not be stared at, not have these comments and just fit in. "We just want to be comfortable and to be safe in these jobs.' Jade is now considering going into schools and colleges to talk to women who fancy a career as joiners. She added: 'I just want to normalise it. There are probably women out there who want to do it but are terrified to do it. 'It would mean the world to me if someone decided to become a joiner because of me. 'But we don't want to take over the world or the trade. We just want to feel equal and safe.'
