This text is part of the special Feminine Leadership notebook
A passionate carpenter, Violette Goulet is also an entrepreneur and mother of three children. But above all, she is a determined woman. In a field where men are still in the majority, she represents a model of perseverance and proves that barriers are made to be broken down.
“I knew it was a non-traditional profession, but in my head, it was very clear that this was what I wanted to do. So I didn’t procrastinate,” recalls Violette Goulet. Since graduating from the Montreal School of Construction Trades in 2012, she has charted her path in a world still largely dominated by men, not without pitfalls. Today, she is a journeyman carpenter, a title that is earned through hours worked and skills acquired in the field.
Although she faced gender bias early in her career, Mme Goulet never let these obstacles discourage her. “There are always comments like: why are you under construction? Women are less strong. But it is not malicious, it is rather based on prejudices,” she believes. The need to prove one’s skills remains a perpetual challenge. “It doesn’t matter what you did before. You always have to prove yourself, justify, demonstrate,” says the carpenter.
Varied skills
Perseverant, Violette Goulet trained in various fields ranging from renovation to construction, including the restoration of built heritage, an area “not valued enough”, according to her. In Montreal, she mainly worked for large commercial companies. In 2021, the Noovo documentary series The big move followed his move, with his family, from his Montreal suburb to Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé, where Mme Goulet built their house with his own hands, as well as a cozy lodge to welcome a few tourists to their new region.
Since working in Gaspésie, the mother is happy to work as an employee for an entrepreneur who does everything, which was not possible in an urban environment due to the specialization of the trades. “In Gaspésie, we have a lot of renovation and new construction projects. It’s interesting, because it allows me to acquire new skills,” she says.
Recognition of women in the sector
Violette Goulet is aware of the particular challenges that women encounter in traditionally male-dominated professions. She does not hide the subtle discriminations, the constant doubts about her skills and the “ mansplaining ” frequent. “It also took longer than for a man to get to where I am, because I had two children close together and therefore a long maternity leave,” she says. The professional also remembers knocking on many doors, without success, in 2019. “I could see that they were not interested in having a daughter. I remember one time when the secretary called the site manager and told him that there was a “little girl” who wanted to work. I already had two children, I was no longer a “little girl” and I was qualified for the work,” recalls the carpenter.
According to the Quebec Construction Commission, in 2023, nearly 3.8% of the total workforce on construction sites were women. Violette Goulet points out, however, that certain carpenters who dedicate themselves solely to renovation are not counted in the official counts. She encourages women who wish to enter the sector. “I find it refreshing when I hear women who tell me that they already do small jobs around their house, that they feel capable of doing it. That speaks to me, that, I tell them “godo it if you’re interested, there’s nothing stopping you,” she rejoices.
The carpenter also qualifies the difficulty of the work. “Yes, it’s a demanding job, but no more than a waitress or beneficiary attendant. I was once a chambermaid for a large hotel in Montreal and some days I was more tired than I am now,” she says.
In Gaspésie, carpenters can be counted on the fingers of one hand, according to Violette Goulet. But there is strength in numbers, she thinks, and coming together among women in predominantly male professions can really make things happen. “Unions are not used to taking certain needs into consideration when they are essentially female, so it is important to unite among women to assert our rights, if necessary. »And, above all, you have to have confidence in your skills as a woman in the industry, she concludes, because determination and talent always win out in the end.
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