Jenny Boland is a plumber from Harrow. She says she has to fight against sexism and prejudice everyday in her job.
A few years ago, while Jenny was studying Psychology at a college, she had a problem in her bathroom and had to call a plumber. She says “ I watched the plumber while he was working, and I was fascinated. I wanted to learn how to do it”. But she has had a lot of problems with male plumbers from the very beginning.
Jenny says “Some of them have been very horrible. It’s been so difficult to change their negative opinion of me. They are so sure that I can’t do plumbing just because I’m female. One employer told me it is a job for big strong men. He didn’t want women there”.
But what do the customers think? “Oh, the customers have been great!” She says “A lot of them actually prefer a female plumber.” Jenny loves her job. “I get so much satisfaction from plumbing. I just love fixing things!”
What is her advice to other women who want to try non-traditional careers? “You should definitely try to, but you have to be tough”, she says.