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14 Powerful Photos Of Women Doing “Men’s Work” That Prove There’s No Such Thing As “Men’s Work”
How many times have you heard the old expression, "this is a man's job"? We're pretty tired of it, and fortunately, so is California photographer Chris Crisman. With his latest photo series, Women's Work, he's documenting the women who do those 'men's jobs' with pride, and he's breaking down gender stereotypes in the process.
The story of Women's Work starts in early 2016 when Crisman heard from an art producer that a friend of hers had become a butcher, and realized that he had never actually met a female butcher. After meeting and photographing the strong woman, Heather Marold Thomason, Crisman was inspired to find other women taking on unusual jobs that are traditionally male-dominated. From farmers to firefighters, to lobster fishers, the professional photographer was able to locate and capture dozens of inspiring women from across the nation, and finally rolled out the project in October 2016.
Though Women's Work is now 'out there,' Crisman insists that it's a work-in-progress. "There are so many people with interesting jobs that we would still love to include in the project, but we’ll get there. I believe that Women’s Work is the type of project where the purpose does not have an expiration date," he told APE in a November interview. The Penn Valley-based photographer is the father of 2 young children, including a daughter, whom he encourages to dream without limits and pursue her passions, even if others see them as unconventional.
More info: Chris Crisman Photography (h/t: APE)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Mindy Gabriel, Firefighter In Upper Arlington, Ohio
RELATED:
#2
Sadie Samuels, Lobster Fisher In Rockport, Maine
#3
Leeann Johnson, Haul Truck Driver At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Round Mountain, Nevada
#4
Women Doing 'men's Work'
Sylvia Valentin 8 years ago
That must be an excellent thing to do when stressed "I (BAM!)AM(BAM!)NOT(BAM!)ANGRY(BAM!!)!!"
#5
Alison Goldblum, Property Developer In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#6
Heather Marold Thomason, Butcher And Owner Of Primal Supply Meats In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#7
Christina Burris, Brewer And Operations Manager Of St. Benjamin’s Brewing In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#8
Mira Nakashima, Designer And Woodworker At George Nakashima Woodworking In New Hope, Pennsylvania
#9
Judy Bowman, Process Operator, Round Mountain Gold Mine, Round Mountain, Nv
#10
Beth Beverly, Taxidermist In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#11
Jordan Ainsworth, Mill Operator At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Round Mountain, Nevada
#12
Kris Alvarez, Senior Geologist At Round Mountain Gold Mine In Nevada
Sofía Gutiérrez Jara 8 years ago
Never knew that being a geologist was a man job (I am a student of geology and never saw it that way). Is time to stop giving stereotyopes to every job or thing you see around!
#13
Nancy Poli, Pig Farmer At Stryker Farms In Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
Too Lazy To Care 🐼 8 years ago
I absolutely love pigs! I have always wanted to own a small farm with a few piggies in there.
#14
Carol Warn, Leach Pad Operator At Marigold Mining Company In Valmy, Nevada
Paula Newsome 8 years ago
Way too limited.....need to travel the actual globe and take photos of women who keep communities together because of their back-breaking work.
Florencia Rojas-Miguez 8 years ago
obviously you've never been to a mine site. it is backbreaking work...
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Felicia Dale 8 years ago
Gorgeous photos- but I would love to see photos from more places than just the US.
Tesla Sulu 8 years ago
Great to see more possibilities open to women....white women that is. Only 1 woman of color on this list.
Medshroom Andra 8 years ago
Defenetly passion can bring any human being doing his/her best work, it doesn` t depend on the sex...womans can be giologists, archeologists, designers, farmers, sailos, if they have a passion for it, like mens can do also, but working in a factory as a worker, or mill operators, or any idustrial jobs, i think that kind of job it`s done more as a need, as a lack of inspiration and value for yourself, so some of them are defenelty drived by passion, and some of them are driverd by need...it depends on the case...and every story is different...so this is just another feminist article which is not so appliable in the everyday life...it s some sort of propaganda.
Pat 8 years ago
So just because someone works in a factory they lack passion and are driven by need. It is called living in the real world. Typical male drivel about feminism.
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What do you think ?
Daria B 8 years ago
This is great and I love to see the breaking of harmful stereotypes! However... Sometimes I have random thoughts that one of the big problems with femminism is actually leaning too much over proving that women can be as good as man, even to the extent of literally boyish women being considered as feminist heroes. Now, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT alone. But... It would be even more empowering with the ADDITION of men proudly doing what's considered "women's work". It would show that the femininity is being embraced, not diminished as "inferior work for inferior beings", or "easy work for weak creatures". Anyway... For these women, I have nothing but compliments.
Wezbie 8 years ago
Damn I was 19 minutes too late! That was exactly what I was going to say! I would love to see it be more of a 'breaking down stupid job stereotypes' and show men as nannys', stay at home dads, nurses, cake decorators etc. Anything that has been considered 'girly' in the past and preventing men from doing what they really love too. I love that this encourages little girls to become whomever they want and I would like the same for little boys.
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John L 8 years ago
If they can handle the physical demands of the job, then go for it. Just remember though that women are set up best for endurance, and not burst strength. That's why genetically men were the hunters, and required different strengths, while women used their endurance for everything else.
Roger Nehring 8 years ago
Golly John L, Thanks a ton for the mansplainin' !
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Marioara Popescu 8 years ago
How the f**k are these "men's jobs"? Women have been doing these things since ever. The only men's job I can think of is sperm donor. There is literally nothing else that requires a penis.
Matt Barnes 8 years ago
I have a wonderful photo of my sea captain wife, wearing our infant son on her back while she pilots a commercial passenger vessel. I love my strong lady.
Loren Halsey 8 years ago
Meh. Whatever.....i have known women that do "men's" work for YEARS. Good photos, but the message is skewed by an agenda
jha13 8 years ago
It is cute how women tend to seek validation when it comes to proving they can "do" men's work. Women doing these kind of jobs are much more of an oddity than what the feminist media would make you think. Truth is men die at dangerous jobs in a much more alarming rate than women. Nice photoshoot though, a bit condescending, but nicely done. Really liked the composition and the use of light in #10
Lea Wheeler 8 years ago
Sadly, they forgot the women in the military. A coupe of jobs here are just push button ones.
Seal Over 8 years ago
i mean ... Who even stops them from doing these jobs ? The fact that these women managed to do it , simply proves that there's nothing stopping them , just their own mindsets , The biggest reason those jobs are called " Men's work " is because most of the people who would want such jobs are men , which are more used to Physical work than women o.o
Chubby Unicorn 8 years ago
If you can do it, go for it. God never meant for some jobs to be "a man's job". So anyone can do it.
Adam Warlock 7 years ago
None of those are considered men's work. I come from a pretty conservative country (Romania) and I know women that had half of those professions 40 years ago in an age were staying at home was encouraged
Carolyn Pearson 8 years ago
It's great to see women taking the helm in a " man's work world". You should see the women of the USDA/FSIS in the slaughterhouse/ processing plants across America❤️❤️ Yes , I was one of them...
Daria B 8 years ago
This is great and I love to see the breaking of harmful stereotypes! However... Sometimes I have random thoughts that one of the big problems with femminism is actually leaning too much over proving that women can be as good as man, even to the extent of literally boyish women being considered as feminist heroes. Now, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT alone. But... It would be even more empowering with the ADDITION of men proudly doing what's considered "women's work". It would show that the femininity is being embraced, not diminished as "inferior work for inferior beings", or "easy work for weak creatures". Anyway... For these women, I have nothing but compliments.
Wezbie 8 years ago
Damn I was 19 minutes too late! That was exactly what I was going to say! I would love to see it be more of a 'breaking down stupid job stereotypes' and show men as nannys', stay at home dads, nurses, cake decorators etc. Anything that has been considered 'girly' in the past and preventing men from doing what they really love too. I love that this encourages little girls to become whomever they want and I would like the same for little boys.
Load More Replies... John L 8 years ago
If they can handle the physical demands of the job, then go for it. Just remember though that women are set up best for endurance, and not burst strength. That's why genetically men were the hunters, and required different strengths, while women used their endurance for everything else.
Roger Nehring 8 years ago
Golly John L, Thanks a ton for the mansplainin' !
Load More Replies... Marioara Popescu 8 years ago
How the f**k are these "men's jobs"? Women have been doing these things since ever. The only men's job I can think of is sperm donor. There is literally nothing else that requires a penis.
Matt Barnes 8 years ago
I have a wonderful photo of my sea captain wife, wearing our infant son on her back while she pilots a commercial passenger vessel. I love my strong lady.
Loren Halsey 8 years ago
Meh. Whatever.....i have known women that do "men's" work for YEARS. Good photos, but the message is skewed by an agenda
jha13 8 years ago
It is cute how women tend to seek validation when it comes to proving they can "do" men's work. Women doing these kind of jobs are much more of an oddity than what the feminist media would make you think. Truth is men die at dangerous jobs in a much more alarming rate than women. Nice photoshoot though, a bit condescending, but nicely done. Really liked the composition and the use of light in #10
Lea Wheeler 8 years ago
Sadly, they forgot the women in the military. A coupe of jobs here are just push button ones.
Seal Over 8 years ago
i mean ... Who even stops them from doing these jobs ? The fact that these women managed to do it , simply proves that there's nothing stopping them , just their own mindsets , The biggest reason those jobs are called " Men's work " is because most of the people who would want such jobs are men , which are more used to Physical work than women o.o
Chubby Unicorn 8 years ago
If you can do it, go for it. God never meant for some jobs to be "a man's job". So anyone can do it.
Adam Warlock 7 years ago
None of those are considered men's work. I come from a pretty conservative country (Romania) and I know women that had half of those professions 40 years ago in an age were staying at home was encouraged
Carolyn Pearson 8 years ago
It's great to see women taking the helm in a " man's work world". You should see the women of the USDA/FSIS in the slaughterhouse/ processing plants across America❤️❤️ Yes , I was one of them...
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