Wired for Success - Sexist?

[overskilled]

BBC News - Bright spark of an idea on unemployment
So either this will be a cheap way to get staff by paying them below going rates ala indentured servitude (working for your landlord, how many are going to look the other way when told to break the rules to avoid risking their tenancy?), propaganda to make it look like something is being done to find people work (as usual quietly die away after a few months), justified by "vulnerable women feel intimidated by men so we'll give them female tradespeople" or another example of sex discrimination laws being ignored to favour one gender...yet again....

Don't get me wrong, its good to see people in work, but not when plenty of others who just as able or more able are sitting on the dole and don't get the opportunity solely because they are the "wrong gender"

What do others think?

 

[millwall ken]

BBC News - Bright spark of an idea on unemployment
So either this will be a cheap way to get staff by paying them below going rates ala indentured servitude (working for your landlord, how many are going to look the other way when told to break the rules to avoid risking their tenancy?), propaganda to make it look like something is being done to find people work (as usual quietly die away after a few months), justified by "vulnerable women feel intimidated by men so we'll give them female tradespeople" or another example of sex discrimination laws being ignored to favour one gender...yet again....

Don't get me wrong, its good to see people in work, but not when plenty of others who just as able or more able are sitting on the dole and don't get the opportunity solely because they are the "wrong gender"

What do others think?

I got my first forum warning over this very subject. I steamed into some of the boys who to my minds eye was more prepared to help a female trainee sparkie than help male trainees who asked similar questions. ALL political correctness and so-called 'positive discrimination' is not only stupid but plain wrong. It should be the best person for the job. NOT because you fill some scumbag PC criterior.

 

[sbrown2]

You are right Ken. But you also know the truth. Nepatism, not sure how you spell it, is massive. Relationships are more important than the best man for the job. Therefore I have mixed feelings about this. In as much as I look at that group of women and can see that at least 50% of them will not finish or not pass the course. But I look at the fact that 100% of those women would never have got the opportunity for the training in a fair race. And in this climate they would have had no chance of obtaining those roles. Therefore this initiative has to be looked at, in a hopefully, positive socialogical aspect. If nurtured enough and some of these women can suceed in their communities can it have a small effect, maybe motivating their children to look for a trade and thus maybe moving from a benefit culture where they need social housing. You cannot look at this project, and as I've seen earlier, link it to the fight against the big eight, and say what chance have we got. There will be a number of these small projects but they will not be treading on our toes.

 

[overskilled]

actually Des my problem isn't with old sparks per se, but with those who fail to keep their skills up to par. Guy who taught the course was early 50s, moved off tools due to medical problems but still was a good spark. Very good in fact and he made the course easy to follow, and tried his best to make it interesting. When I said time served I was referring to the fact that I felt that them being time served should have enabled them to pass the course with relative ease, some did, others failed so badly it raised serious questions over their competence, particularly so when they are training apprentices day to day.
There are cowboys out there, time served and 5 day coursers also. Refusing to admit they are out there doesn't get rid of them, nor does it help those coming through apprenticeships. Some of whom will pick up bad practices from those who should be showing them the right way to do things not cut corners and bodge things.
Wagos was just an example , some like them , others don't. I used them as an example of something newish on the market that some will refuse to even test out simply as its new without looking at it objectively.
Written on my phone so don't be surprised if there are a horde if spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes.
Thanks for your point of view though.

 

[kathwilcox]

I don't mean to sound bigoted because I'm not but you have to realise that in this society if you are female you get everything given to you whereas if you are male you get knaff all.

That's just the way it is.

speak for yourself mate!!

Just to let you know i've worked bloody hard to get where i am today, i've had nothing handed to me on a plate, and i am sure i can say for all off us female sparks out there, that in fact we have to work twice as hard as you males to prove ourselves, and i'm sure at all of the people i have worked for and with will tell you i ain't no slacker!!

please keep opionins like that to yourself or at least think about what your posting!!!

 

[kathwilcox]

speak for yourself mate!!

Just to let you know i've worked bloody hard to get where i am today, i've had nothing handed to me on a plate, and i am sure i can say for all off us female sparks out there, that in fact we have to work twice as hard as you males to prove ourselves, and i'm sure at all of the people i have worked for and with will tell you i ain't no slacker!!

please keep opinions like that to yourself or at least think about what your posting!!!

oh and i did the same 2330 course as around 30 other males got no preferential treatment, passed each modual with either a merit or distinction and also passed my 2391 ( which alot of people struggle with!), i think the word i'm looking for is dedication!!

yes i my be female but i don't expect to be treated any differently to any other spark, in fact i find it offensive if i am, at the end of the day i'm one of the lads, i do my job to the best of my ability and i certainly don't let anything beat me!

 

[sbrown2]

Disagree with you there Kath. Let people air their views so that they may be challenged and, maybe, converted!

I've a feeling you are not in the same situation as these women in so much as you found your way in the industry yourself. But I still feel that initiatives like these are a potentially a positive step. What is being perceived wrongly here is that the women are potentially some sort of a minority group and that is certainly not the case, is it? 50/50 I always thought! A bit better in Nottingham!! But more importantly the socio economic context of motivating a type of women who would not get these opportunities.

 

[sbrown2]

If you are a man who gets naff all join all of the working classess at the moment. Time are not good.

 

[La Poste]

If this initiative is not sexist then why is it being offered only to women?
Why not offer it 50/50 between men and women, that would be fair.

 

[BluSparx]

To give Kath credit she is dedicated, thorough and works hard for what she has.

At the end of the day Male or Female it shouldn't make a difference what makes the difference is whether the person works and gets the job done or whether they take the michael.

At the end of the day Kath will always speak her mind say it as it is but by god she certainly works bloody hard and is worth her weight in gold!!!! as I am sure DS will agree