What it's really like being a female electrician in NZ

As one of only 2% of female electricians in Aotearoa New Zealand, Brooke Thompson has experienced bullying and harassment throughout her career. Subscribe to Re: bit.ly/subscribe-re
“I think that the culture is pretty bad. And I hate when people say, ‘it's one or two bad eggs’ because I think of all the times I've been harassed on site, there's been other men around and those other men didn't say anything or they laughed. And that's what hurt most.”
But she found support and encouragement from other women in the trades, and wants to do the same for new women sparkies entering the industry.
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[@_chelcie]

that’s awesome she didn’t quit. My sister was one of the ones who got the opportunity then wasn’t supported/protected. She’s a tomboy lesbian who plays rugby and she STILL had to quit bc of the sexism. It made her so depressed she could barely face going to work every day

[@Korvmannen]

What a shame. Hope she found another workplace that was accepting of her being herself, personality wise and with who she loves 🏳️‍🌈

[@littleripper312]

I used to work as a line cook which depending on the kitchen can be extremely bad for women. I had always experience sexism but the abuse I was put through was shocking and I'm what would be considered a pretty thick skinned tomboy. I was able to put up with it for a while but eventually I had to leave, just not worth it, especially as it was also a low paying job.

[@_chelcie]

​@@littleripper312 I had the same experience just working as a waitress in NZ. Creepy bosses and chefs who thought they could be inappropriate and get away with it. The toxic masculinity in NZ is beyond repulsive. That was 10 years ago but it's hardly changed. I just had to leave a job because they hired a rapist, Wayne McCormack, who remains the go-to horse person for film even though he's been convicted of indecent assault (btw sexual assault is not a crime in NZ, so all sexual assault is convicted as "indecent" assault). It's so cooked how lightly they deal with sexual abuse here. I need to leave ASAP for my mental health

[@_chelcie]

@@Korvmannen thank you

[@29micka]

What does being a tomboy lesbian that plays football have to do with it?

[@rscelectrical7091]

Good on you for sticking with it. Try to ignore the idiots that give you grief on site, jealousy is a terrible thing. For what it's worth, my daughter went through some of the same over here in the UK when she was doing her apprenticeship as an industrial electrician. She was lucky that she had other guys there that stood up for her and watched her back, she had the last laugh on the haters as she became their boss. Good luck with the business, don't give up on it.

[@tomb6865]

always good to hear. Also in the UK. Not an electrician but a (male, I guess it matters here) software engineer. I've seen so many female colleagues get shit from male colleagues due to being female. It's ridiculous in all these industries. I'm nearly 40. I've taught at a university and worked professionally with all kinds of people. Sex is not an indicator of ability. There are amazing men and amazing women, and terrible men and terrible women/

[@STACCS99]

2:53 💯 percent BIG RESPECT to this chick nd the rest of the female tradies 🛠💪🏿

[@PlayingDownUnder]

You simp. Lol.

[@littleripper312]

Unfortunately there are still many careers that are not female friendly. I grew up with brothers and have worked in male dominated jobs my whole life so I've developed a thick skin and can handle the abusive men. I am in my 30's looking to make a career change into electrician and have some idea of what I'm getting into in regards to the men being an issue and know I'm up for it. I could see most women not wanting or being able to deal with the men and it's really sad they're being pushed out of a career for that reason.

[@CroNuS19785]

Being female-friendly isn't the issue; the trades are not generally friendly. Bosses and senior staff in the trades are often bullies because that is how they were treated. They will pick on you if you're young, too old, fat, stupid, left-leaning, a woman, Maori, etc. I cringed hard when she looked for affirmation at the end. I would've been chewed out for wasting time, expecting praise for just doing your job properly, "That's what you get paid for! You want a ****** cookie?!

[@bensheard3969]

Yeah no we're done with this whole "women can't do certain careers thing" it's horseshit

[@carmelgraham-williams1338]

You made the right decision as you will make so much money. Plus an inspiration for other woman.

[@caravanlifenz]

I wanted to be an electrician when I was in high school, but my dad wouldn't let me because he knew the industry was full of bullies who would sexually harass me, so I went to university instead. Regarding the ass slapping - male bosses also slap the asses of male apprentices too and they hate it too. I used to work for the NZ government agency that deals with complaints about harassment at work, and we used to receive complaints about male bosses slapping male apprentice's asses. NZ has this seedy, sleazy culture where apprentices are degraded and demeaned to teach them they're low in the pecking order. The bosses know the employees hate it, but it's a form of control where they're telling the apprentice they are worthless and 'owned' by the boss. It's pathetic they get their kicks that way.

[@davidmarjason4222]

I don’t think that would even fly well in the UK, if someone ever do that to me. I would look them straight in the eye and ask if he was gay, then proceeds to tell him to bend over then. It would surely scare him off, but I wouldn’t care. It may be a New Zealand thing because I have never seen bosses slapping guys asses before, its weird and you would get a hefty lawsuit against your company if you did anything inappropriate like that. If it happen to a girl, may the lord have mercy on his company because he will be in the front page local newspaper with his reputation down the drain. I honestly wish more gals like yourself get into becoming a sparky though, it’s such a awarding Job and the feeling that you actually built this and install this with your own two hands is pretty amazing and also the satisfaction on finding out a fault that not many people can figure out themselves.

[@gbw28]

Sounds like things are a lot better in the UK. The behaviour mentioned is inexcusable.

[@djtutty76]

I have worked in four different trades in several different businesses ranging from small family owned businesses to larger companies that operate over multiple branches and employed many apprentices . I have never seen any ass slapping anywhere and have never heard anyone ever talk about it. Try and keep in mind that someone that works in the actual govt dept that deals with such things sees the worst of the worst, day in day out. NZ does not have a sleazy seedy culture that intentionally degrades apprentices. Massive generalisation there and totally inaccurate.

[@masteryoda394]

women joining the trades is amazing, I hope she doesn't have to deal with creeps anymore.

[@sashashashashaaa]

If I had known a career like this was available to me as a woman when I was graduating high school, I feel like I would've instantly applied. It's hard work, but rewarding. Hopefully with more women joining the trades, the culture of it will change for the better.

[@Tiger74147]

It's not too late! We want you in the trades!

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

It's never to late (unless you're like 60 years old) to join

[@Tiger74147]

@@Aaron-kj8dvWhy 60?

[@deangulberry1876]

I’m a man and no one ever told me about any blue collar jobs. It was all about going to college. I think these high school teachers just know about becoming a teacher.

[@wheatstonebridge]

I'm a woman doing my pre training before I start 1st year. Im the only woman in my class. Im still so nervous but I hope that things go well. Im really interested in this trade.

[@brianw.4585]

I work at a small electrical company here in Florida. Unfortunately, I've only seen a couple of women try it out over the last 25 years. It's a great trade with some mental and physical gymnastics involved. I see no reason why women shouldn't give it a try.

[@tyice8730]

The Electrical apprenticeship system in NZ is an absolute disgrace. Army sparks are the only ones getting properly trained these days.

[@ilovebooks49]

she's a fucking inspiration, i would love to go into trades but I'm scared of sexual harassment and misogyny in general. it's literally insane how a whole area of human knowledge and skill is gatekept by men who literally harass all women out

[@Riske236]

What brand do you use ? Screwdrivers etc ?

[@joeysaavedra56]

Hello mam, I would ask if I can work in NZ, any electrical construction job. I can do electrical work. Do you know any agency that would give free visa now. I'm in Philippines now.

[@generessler6282]

In the US, women in the trades are sorely needed. Male-run operations are often disappointing in areas that men tend to get wrong. Based on experience other areas, I am 100% confident that women will help fix this problem. Congratulations on your triumph over idiots.

[@parzavaal5335]

What are the areas men get wrong? if I may ask.

[@tehreemfatima-bn2lr]

Girl, never let em win. Keep soaring

[@BeachcomberNZ]

Back in the 1980's, we had female trainee telecom technicians in what is now called Spark (NZPO, back then) and they were always treated the same way as the males. The job was similar to an electrician, and had a heavy electro-mechanical element to it back then, which later became solid state technology. The number of female techs was very small, but, they could do the job as well as anyone, and we never even thought of hassling them. Don't know why it's gotten worse in the so-called enlightened 21st century.

[@leea1988]

Good on her. Proving the naysayers wrong and building a career for yourself is incredibly admirable. All the best for the future, Brooke!

[@michael.77B]

Good on her

[@parzavaal5335]

It kinda sounds like she just stuck around out of spite though, which is just sad.

[@kkora4533]

Has she started a company already? I hope there’s a way to reach her out

[@stonedsloth6367]

how are you doing? are you still interested at all and have been given an opportunity?

[@EllenMadumira]

Hey happy to see a fellow female Electrician in NZ

[@rhys5186]

I literally just turned 17 and I wanna be an electrician because I've got nothing going for me

[@tyleratkinson9898]

Do ya pre trade son

[@PlayingDownUnder]

You literally turned 17? So you didn't just turn 17, but you literally did?

[@davidmarjason4222]

Just do it mate, it’s a skill for life and you will always be qualified. So if you move on to do something else and want to come back to becoming a sparkie again, you can do that. Electricians are a great job during a recession as well and very much in demand as everyone else are going to university. You have nothing to lose

[@phillipjohnson9191]

Join the union, in 5 years you get a pension and become a licensed electrician.

[@Danieltaylorsoaringnz]

Good stuff !!

[@Tiger74147]

If you love it, do it! Don't let anyone get in your way! As for men, they tend to give everyone shit as a sort of litmus test, but many don't establish trust first, and some things are never okay. Things are always getting better, though!

[@Jackcc5]

no body should smack some else on the bum like that. that's not respectful. if i had a female working in my work place I'd give the the utmost respect

[@patrickcannell2258]

I have mentored more women electricians and engineers than men! I am 62 years old male!

[@user-yn1cu9vd7m]

I am also building electrician return, I saw your video, very nice👍

[@deangulberry1876]

She’s got a big smile on her face talking about that guy slapping her ass… twice!

[@josuequeiroz7684]

Muito bom!! Parabéns pelo trabalho 👏🏼👏🏼

[@DiorDior-nd9lr]

As an electrician, I wonder how many trenches she's had to dig yet or if she usually just gets her male cowokers to do it. Also not wearing those shorts and wearing some pants that civer your legs when your working with literally all men also seems like kind of a no brainer. My mom was an electrician literally half her lufe and she hasn't had these problems, but she dressed properly and worked hard and actually pulled her weight.

[@Ren_idk]

i want to become an electrician i'm studing to become one but i'm scared at the same time cause i'm a trans man but haven't transitioned much so a lot of people can tell i'm female at birth and not only i'm scared of my gender being pointed out and dysphoria but about the sexism too i'm scared that i might regret my option

[@amoni1959]

Good for u. I like it all but the shorts. Not much protection for the legs. AND! Less pockets. 😢

[@jukio02]

That's crazy. I never knew girls can do these stuff.

[@tomb6865]

Stick with it, please. I'm a software engineer and I've worked with people from all kinds of background and both male and female. I also teach computer programming at a university. If anything women tend to be slightly better because the only women who join the profession are ones who have an aptitude for it whereas we get men joining who chose it because it pays well. Don't let the haters put you off, keep doing what you do!

[@raiderwolf2066]

The first thing I noticed is she wears shorts on the job 🤦‍♂️

[@JustmeQuinn]

for 6 months of the year in Aus everyone wears shorts on the job, why wouldn't you if it's bloody hot?

[@majoritypatella2503]

Thank you.

[@PlayingDownUnder]

No! Thank you!!!

[@vikramsinh566]

I am indian electricion ❤🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@nixy1756]

fantastic video!!

[@andrewcheshire244]

I guess she's pro-active in her life and down to earth. You've got to deal with the negatives too though.

[@JediWebSurf]

This is cool.

[@ridgeelectricity6421]

Congratulations

[@kesangtamang4588]

Hello mam I'm from India I'm also working as an electrician and looking for a job in new Zealand Please Any advice from you mam..

[@sjames9036]

Best look in Auckland. You'll need a provisional licence to begin with.

[@jefferyaugustusmatthias1286]

❤❤❤ kudos. 😊😊

[@butchleef275]

awesome attitude

[@PlayingDownUnder]

You pansy! Lol!

[@user-yn1cu9vd7m]

You are very pretty❤

[@venkatking2509]

I love you too

[@lalitpatel709]

I am electrician please help me job

[@jasonmarcus8814]

Clever girl

[@jefferyaugustusmatthias1286]

❤ Pretty well done ... 😊😊😊😅

[@mrwhiskers6253]

Wonder if she’ll help me make a house lol 😊

[@Cheankris]

how to be you maaam

[@eliasrios4011]

She’s pretty ❤

[@Bebedollie]

Latina gorls are beautiful

[@yes-vy6bn]

hope she saw this bro

[@ninocaric5454]

Mmmm

[@AmarjeetSingh-fm8tb]

you are Queen i impressed and want electrical training under you that will be my pleasure if you agree

[@jaccsparrow8664]

What's her @ asking on behalf 👀🤣

[@Zaria_Dobbs]

Imagine missing the point of the video that hard, jesus fuck.

[@PlayingDownUnder]

Please speak in English

[@Bebedollie]

@@Zaria_Dobbs don't cuss Jesus's name. Whats wrong with u

[@Riske236]

@@Bebedollie he’s not real

[@yes-vy6bn]

@@Zaria_Dobbs congrats on your transition!

[@yes-vy6bn]

lmao * becoming a tradie to own the men *

[@alessiomarin1218]

Honestly, you're going to get grief on-site no matter who you are. It takes a different form for women, however (e.g. ass-slapping). For example, a carpenter who came and gave my parents a quote for the extension of their deck and pergola told us that, during the first year of his (first fix) apprenticeship, he was locked inside a portaloo which was then tied to the towball of one of the tradesman's utes, and then driven at least 100 metres up a mildly trafficked road. Those who are successful learn to persist in the face of hardship and difficulty. Do that, and I believe anyone will for the most part be fine at whatever it is they decide to do in life.

[@oldmate99]

Now she's out there ripping off clients

[@vicmac3513]

Sparkie, what a word. I would never work with bare hands, t-shirt and shorts as a electrician. In some buildsites it is heavily forbidden too. Ps. Replace those horrible screwjoints from 1950's to modern, latched Wago connectors. It is constant torture to use those.

[@bythegraceofadoni]

as long as she's wearing proper insulated electrician boots she's fine, don't be such a scared Weiner

[@parzavaal5335]

Thx for pointing that out mate 😭

[@vicmac3513]

@@parzavaal5335 are you the sparkie represented in this video?

[@parzavaal5335]

@@vicmac3513 nope but no one else pointed it out.

[@tonydickey9669]

I would never work with bare hands ? I'd keep that yourself when you visit a Kiwi building site if I was you

[@PulverizerA]

More women in the trades will mean less time in the trades for men. Because the men will still be doing the heavy labor that will wear your body out over 25 years, while the women will be given the gravy jobs that used to be given to the broken down old timers, so they could make it to retirement. Just sayin.

[@bythegraceofadoni]

sounds like more anti men propaganda to me

[@NomaderWhereIAm]

Men create their own anti men propaganda by being themselves idk what you’re trying to say here. she’s literally just speaking on her own pets experience and it just so happens that many men are consistently sexist so…maybe y’all should work on that and hold each other accountable

[@bythegraceofadoni]

@@NomaderWhereIAm oo a political wizard has emerged from simp city

[@_chelcie]

@@bythegraceofadoni so weird dudes like you think respecting women equates to being a simp. you are part of the problem bro, be better

[@phillipjohnson9191]

I'm a male electrician and she is not lying. I cant remember how many men I've had to explain to that catcalling and harassing women is not ok. I literally got into a fight with a dude cause he kept making r**** jokes. Don't talk about things you don't know about.

[@bythegraceofadoni]

@phillipjohnson9191 sounds like you're just another cuck male. Cat calling is complementary, and women should stop being offended at everything.

[@PlayingDownUnder]

The same thing happens when men enter into hairdressing or beauty salons...

[@derp9148]

kzbin.info/aero/OLAK5uy_mxMPuK7idlOICMcDgNvU8ic1lfJHOgoXs

[@moconnell1375]

Doesn’t mean it’s okay ✋ they can co-exist 😊

[@PlayingDownUnder]

@@moconnell1375 I agree. However, I think you are missing the point.

[@vincentchung495]

Or childcare, I just noticed at a local kindy, male pre school teachers, I think its great to give pre schoolers male role models/teachers ❤ especially the kiddies without fathers…

[@PlayingDownUnder]

@@vincentchung495 Exactly!

[@ThiMissGolly]

Can you start a trade at 30??? 🫣🥹

[@phillipjohnson9191]

Yes but if you can try to go to trade school or hop into a union aprentiship. The ibew is alot more accepting of tradewomen. They even have an ibew women's conference