force''. Although they are few in numbers, local women are beginning to assert their presence in fields such as tiling, carpentry and plumbing that traditionally have been dominated by men. Dawn Burns has been a tiler at Peets Tiler Service for almost five years. She is responsible not only for tiling, but for masonry as well. Mardell Simons also currently works as a tiler, but said she intends to try her hand at all the trades and has already spent a two-and-a-half year stint as a carpenter. "We have our share of hard work -- removing sinks and toilets and putting them back in. I also do some jack-hammering, if the tile has to be removed, and I bricked my own fireplace last week,'' Ms Burns said. When speaking with Ms Burns and Ms Simons, it became evident that earning a living through what is traditionally considered "men's work'' seems to have its roots in a desire for self-sufficiency and independence. Ms. Burns said she leaned toward the construction trades at a very early age, although she did not initially expect to have a career as a tiler. "I started doing jobs around the house when I was 13. My mother was very independent, always doing things herself, and I've always been the type of woman to attempt to do things on my own, too,'' said Ms Burns. "I had numerous opportunities to go away to college and I didn't take it.. had I gone further in school I probably wouldn't be doing this. "But it is good being outside, and there are those who aren't cut out for college,'' she noted. Ms Simons studied carpentry at the Bermuda College and spent time learning to make shutters and blinds. "I'm not an office person, and I'm trying to show that women can do this kind of work, too... I'm trying to become that role model for all women,'' she said. Even for women who have decided that a career in the corporate world is not their cup of tea, working in the construction business is not without its problems. Ms Simons and Ms Burns mentioned three major drawbacks they experienced as women working in the construction trade: lack of bathroom facilities, equal pay for equal work, and the availability of a maternity package. Receiving equal pay for equal work is an issue that plagues women across the board -- and the construction trade is no different. Ms Burns stated: "If we've got to lift the same blocks and the same buckets, we should get paid the same -- if we're good workers, don't hold us back.'' She said having a female construction worker on site is often an advantage, since on average, women tended to be very reliable, take less sick days, and were often seen as being trustworthy when work is being done in private homes. Lack of proper on-site lavatory facilities presented difficulties for both women. "You learn to carry your own toilet paper with you, or knock on a neighbour's door if you're working on a house where the bathroom isn't finished yet,'' said Ms Simons. "And sometimes, you've got to go in the trees -- just like the guys,'' she added. Ms Burns noted that the job is very physically stressful, especially for women. And although the mother of four said it is unlikely that she will need maternity benefits at this stage in her life, Ms Burns said a maternity package should be implemented for the women entering the trade. "I was working up to my eighth month of pregnancy... I'd like to see a maternity package implemented,'' she said. "Maybe they don't see the need for it since there are so few women in the trades, but I think there should be a little more consideration,'' she added. Perhaps surprisingly, neither Ms Burns nor Ms Simons have had any difficulty with sexist behaviour from their male counterparts in what is usually a profession dominated by men. Both Ms Burns and Ms Simons said they were never disrespected on the job and in fact received encouragement from their co-workers. "Most guys expressed surprise,'' said Ms Burns. "They would say, `I didn't know a woman could tile'.'' And Ms Simons stated: "Most men I've come across think it's great... and if they were being sexist toward me, I'd put them in their place anyway.'' Ms Burns encouraged young Bermudians to enter the trades, noting that many of the skills acquired by the older tradesmen are being lost. "This is a big part of our history as Bermudians, and there are a lot of young people who don't see the value in it.

"Only we can understand Bermuda architecture -- foreign workers can only reproduce it. Our whole heart goes into it,'' she added. "That's the beauty of being a true Bermudian ... we've learned to make something out of