Working In A Male-Dominant Industry: A Woman’s Perspective

A Woman’s View on the Trade

This article will explore the perspective of Robert Painting Service LLC.’s co-founder, Martha Figueroa, and what she has experienced being a woman in the paint service industry.

According to Zippia - The Career Expert, women make up 13.8% of the painting industry in the United States. Martha falls within this demographic. She began and continues to work as one of the company’s managers, secretary, and as of recently has worked alongside Roberto and the small team on most interior and exterior projects. Here are Martha’s answers to a couple of our questions:

What led you to pursue a role within this industry?

"My family. It began with my parents because from a young age, they planted a seed of improvement in me. My husband also motivated me because as immigrants from Mexico and Honduras we always knew that we came to this country to fight and get ahead, and knew this would be a great opportunity. Lastly, my children since I always wanted to find the means to be able to offer them a good educational foundation for their future."

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

“There are several interesting anecdotes that have happened to me during the course of this race, including the memory of our beginnings in advertising when with my husband, children, and I would pack flyers in sandwich bags with a pebble, select different neighborhoods to visit and get in the car early in the morning to throw our advertisement bags in the parking lots. A client always referred to me as 'Martha with the little stone'.

The strength that God gives me and the intelligence to learn and perform my tasks in different fields of this industry, both intellectually in my role in the office and at work, doing work as another painter in outdoor work sites and interior projects. Above all is the surprise and admiration that our clients show once they know I’m behind the computer and also part of the painting crew doing my best to make their homes look wonderful."

What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in a predominantly male industry?

“The mixed feelings that I perceive when we come into contact with other employees in the industry, since for some, especially men, perceive it negatively. I love seeing women when they see me and admire my spirit of perseverance, and hope to show everyone that they can do what they set their minds do.”

What advice would you give to other women who aspire to work in the industry?

"I would tell women that the era of machismo is over. I respect the fact that men and women are beings with different abilities, but they are a perfect complement and working together we make a great team. This job, like many, is not exclusively for men and I believe that we women can perform perfectly because of our great sense of responsibility, capacity, ability, intelligence efficiency and a clear and effective vision of playing many roles in industrial work and in life. This is a country of opportunities and we must take them, we can’t give up. Nothing in life is easy, but by fighting together - women and men - everything is possible."