Taking a Look Back in History at Female Plumbers

How Women Shape the Plumbing Trade

When homeowners think about a plumbing technician, a female usually does not come to mind. Plumbing is not typically the type of career women go after, mainly because it is male-dominated, which can be intimidating. Not all women, though. The women discussed in this article did not let intimidation or gender get in their way. They fought to become recognized, and it paid off.

Now let's look at a couple of women who helped make this trade a more gender-neutral career.

The Widely Known Lillian Ann Baumbach

Readers might remember Lillian Ann Baumbach due to her famous career as a pin-up model, her appearance on multiple TV shows, or her renowned interview with Walter Cronkite. However, she first made her mark by becoming the first-ever woman master plumber. Lillian Ann Baumbach's role as the first woman master plumber happened at a time when the majority of women were housewives. She decided not to follow the status quo.

Working in the early 1950s as a female and in a field where no woman had ever worked makes Lillian Ann Baumbach a legend! It takes true grit and strength to go down a path no one has ever gone down before. She encouraged many other women to follow their dream of working in this trade.

Founding the Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers

In 1919 a woman named Emily Hornbrook established the Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers. What eventually became one of the oldest women's organizations in the nation started as an all-men's group in 1883, named the National Association of Master Plumbers. Once women came in, they made a name for themselves by creating their own Sanitation Committee.

The Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers worked with the gas station Texaco to make their bathrooms a cleaner environment, which then turned into a national campaign that grocery stores and even restaurants implemented. These women went from being the dispatchers and bookkeepers for their husbands' companies to being recognized nationally for their tremendous contribution to society. 

The Women in the World of Plumbing Today

In the 2013 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1.1% of the plumbers, pipelayers, pipefitters, and steamfitters were women. Shockingly, the number had dropped from the 2010 report, which showed 1.5% of women worked in these industries. Plumbing is a growing industry, and what these reports showed is women are in dire need. 

Now would be the opportune time to look into working for a trade that pays very well and has outstanding benefits. Consider working in the plumbing industry and make history in this ever-changing field.

About A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc.

A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc. specializes in plumbing and commercial heating and cooling repairs in Murphysboro, IL. They have been providing exceptional services to those in their community for over a decade. These experts guarantee to fix the issue the first time or come back out at no additional charge. Give them a call today for expert plumbing service.

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