A Shift in Gender Stereotypes

Heatleys recognises the challenges women face working in what is perceived as a male-dominated industry. We are proud to partner with brands such as Bisley Workwear, Fashion Biz and Steel Blue who also celebrate women in every industry and encourage the move forward to break down gender stereotypes by understanding the specific requirements women have when it comes to workwear.

Women in the industry gave us their perspective on the shift in gender stereotypes and why gender specific workwear is so important.

Debbie - Operations Assistant, Heatleys
“In the nearly 20 years that I’ve worked in the industry, I’ve seen a growing willingness amongst women to take on positions that have traditionally been thought of as male roles. Everyday there are women out there working alongside their male counterparts and doing a remarkable job. As a someone working within the industry, I would like to see more encouragement, information and training on what opportunities exist for women and stereotypes discouraged. During my career, I’ve been required to take on different roles, in tough and demanding environments where it is important to have workwear that has been specifically designed for women. Trade based roles have safety standard requirements that uniforms must adhere to. For this reason, I am always amazed at just how large the Bisley range is. Bisley caters for a such a diverse number of industries with a wide array of colours, styles and textures. Best of all, ladies can find appropriate clothing for their role that meets all the requirements and still be comfortable.”

Pip - Project Manager, MLG OZ
“I’ve worked in the mining industry for three years and, in that time, I’ve noticed a push in advertising over the last 12 months to attract more women to the industry. I would encourage anyone thinking about joining the industry, to take the plunge and see what it has to offer. I think one of the keys to success is finding a company that aligns with your values and that’s what I’ve been fortunate enough to find in MLG. MLG maintain a supportive environment while providing opportunities to build a career. Bisley Workwear has the unique persona of being reliable and durable. Their style caters to all different shapes and sizes, giving it the comfortability factor. I believe if your clothes fit properly, you will feel more confident within yourself, in turn this will be projected in your work.”

Simone - Receptionist / Administrator, TechnipFMC
“I’m quite new to the energy sector – I’ve only been in my current role for 4 months – but I bring over 20 years of office management experience to it. There are certainly more women in the industry now than ever before, however still not enough. My late father inspired me to work in a corporate, office-based role, but he encouraged me to complete a trade first, which was invaluable. Perhaps that experience has influenced my thinking because I’d like to see more apprenticeships offered to women as a way of encouraging them to work in what can sometimes be seen as male-dominated industries. Women need to feel comfortable in these types of environments and that’s why women’s workwear is so important. Fashion Biz women’s range has a modern, corporate look, which I love to wear. In my role, I’m often the first-person customers see when they come to the office, so I want to look professional while feeling comfortable.”