Labor Day: Women in the workforce

Labor Day was created as a holiday in 1894 to celebrate the contribution of the American worker to society.

Only a little more than half of American women are considered participants in this workforce. In 2014 most women were employed as nurses, teachers or secretaries, according to the Department of Labor.

This, however, doesn't reflect the wide array of careers that women have made for themselves.  For Labor Day, the photographers of the Asheville Citizen-Times are featuring a few Western North Carolina women who bring home the bacon with jobs that traditionally have been held by men.

Ranger Katie

Walking along the popular Hickory Nut Falls trail at Chimney Rock State Park, Katherine Scheip, 29, passes a group of children on a field trip.

“Hello, Ranger Katie,” they wave as she passes.

Although she isn’t trying, her presence is a positive example for the group. Scheip is the only female ranger of the five at the 6,000-plus-acre park.

“I think it’s good for young women to know that there are other options for them," Scheip said. "Being a park ranger, although it’s male-dominated, doesn’t mean that women can’t do it.”

Being a North Carolina state park ranger means that Scheip is a Jill-of-all-trades.

She is a trained and certified law enforcement ranger and has medical, search and rescue and firefighter training. She also does environmental education both in and out of the park, natural resource management and helps build and maintain trails and clean park areas.

Although the work can be physically demanding, Scheip grew up going to state parks and spending time outside, so it was never something she thought she couldn’t do.

With a degree in environmental science from UNC Asheville, Scheip started her path to being a park ranger by working seasonally at Eno River State Park.

“There were definitely moments where you kind of feel like a little bit of an imposter, but I definitely don’t feel like that now. I feel like I fit in really well,” she said. “And I never felt like it was this large hurdle that I had to overcome. I’ve never had someone tell me this is a job just for guys.”

Although she does get the occasional quip or comment, including once being called out for being “bossy,” Scheip said she lets it roll off of her back and gets back to work.

“I feel like a lot of women feel like they have to be more tough or masculine to fit in, and I find that not to be the case at all,” she said. “Just be who you are and do your job well.”

Farmer Meredith

Meredith Leigh is an author, butcher, farmer and cook and has teamed up with Living Web Farms as the first female farm staff. On the farm in Hendersonville, Leigh, whose focus with the nonprofit is on education and outreach, administers medicine to sheep and feeds the pigs and chickens. Off the farm, she travels to do

demonstrations on butchery, give talks to farmers on production and teaches charcuterie techniques such as sausage making.

“A lot of my work has been proving to myself I can do it,” said Leigh, who grew up athletic but believes boys are taught how to use their bodies differently than girls. “I

don’t think I had it in my head to use my strength the way boys are taught.” Picking up a 150-pound half hog is now something she relies on herself to get done: “It’s the best thing I can do for myself. If I’m pushing my limits, I’m growing as a person.”

A single mother of two boys, she hopes her children see her thrive and in turn flourish in their own lives. According to the Department of Labor, 23.8 percent of farmers are women, and Leigh believes “the rising tide of farmers are female,” as she has met many along her way.

Women may also bring a different approach to life on the farm. “When you manage systems like nature, multitasking is really important,” Leigh said. “I was born to think of things holistically. I don’t know if that's because I am a woman.”

Through her travels educating, she has met working men in her male-dominated field of agriculture. Many are unfazed that the expert teaching them is a woman. “I am amazed at the credit I’ve gotten from people I idolize,” she said.

However, some want to help her with the heavy lifting of those half hogs. Sometimes she welcomes the help, but she tries to do all the work herself. “I want to do it because I want to practice,” Leigh said. “As you are required to do that, you get stronger.”

Construction Worker Brittany

Brittany James starts her day by getting her two daughters, Aubrey, 11, and Jessica, 10, ready for school. From their bus stop she heads straight to Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, where she attends engineering classes until noon. From there, she heads straight to her internship doing surveying work for GLF Construction at its site at the Asheville Regional Airport. James gets home around 7 p.m. and does her homework, makes dinner, and takes care of house chores.

Then she repeats, four more times that week.

Last year James decided to leave her 10-year career in health care and pursue construction and engineering, and she has no regrets.

“I feel more content because I found something I love,” James said. “I like the fact that my office changes every day.”

James’ husband, Stefan, is also in construction and encouraged her to move into the field. Working toward her associate degree in engineering, James plans to then go to a four-year institution for civil engineering at either N.C. State or UNC Charlotte.

Being one of only four women among hundreds of men at her construction job, James sees the importance of bringing more women to the field.

“I would really like to see more girls and women in STEM fields,” James said. “It’s been very fulfilling for me.”

As James continues to excel in civil engineering she hopes to continue to be a positive influence for her daughters.

“I want them to see me graduate college before they graduate high school,” James said. “I want them to understand the value of a college education.”