Beyond the water cooler: How online groups foster social capital for women in the skilled trades

Abstract

Purpose: This paper examines the current gap between the labor supply and demand of skilled tradespeople. While it is often touted that women can be a potential source of skilled tradespeople to help bridge this gap, several barriers remain. The authors examined the role of social capital in the form of online support groups to attract and retain women in the skilled trades professions. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative interviews were conducted and recorded with 16 women in male-dominated skilled trades (e.g. electrician and plumber) in Canada. Thematic analysis was used to identify social capital, including the role of online support groups. Findings: Unlike other studies that identified family and friends as crucial to developing social and cultural capital among women in the skilled trades, our participants noted that their friends and family were often not as supportive as they would have liked. Online support groups were mentioned as key to building social capital that helped these women to overcome various challenges such as ostracism, harassment and stigma. Originality/value: There is a lack of research identifying the mechanisms involved in how women succeed in male-dominated trades. This research contributes to closing this gap.