‘Bring one of the boys out’: 22-year-old tradie reveals grim request she gets

When this young Aussie turns up to work, sometimes people automatically assume she can’t do her job for a very grim reason.

When Lainie Paterson turns up to work, sometimes people automatically assume she can’t do her job. Not because she’s not qualified or because she has a poor reputation, but because she’s a woman.

The young Aussie is a qualified plumber who left school in Year 11 to pursue her career because she loved being outdoors and had grown up on sites working with her dad.

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘You can’t lift that you’re a chick’, or just people not believing me is the hardest,” she told news.com.au.

The 22-year-old finds the attitude offensive. She’s the first to admit, “You’ve got to be bloody strong” to work in plumbing, but she is strong.

Lainie Paterson just started her own business, which is thriving. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

She loves her work and problem solving. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

There have also been times when she’s been doing work and has had clients ask if there’s a bloke who could do the job instead.

Ms Paterson said she gets that kind of response “all the time” and she’s had people say straight to her face that they don’t think she’s capable, purely because of her gender.

“I’ve had people say, ‘Maybe you should bring one of the boys out’,” she said.

There are some clients where the 22-year-old doesn’t “even bother” going to their houses anymore because of their attitude towards female tradies.

“It is getting better, people are less surprised and less sexist towards me than five years ago. Something must be changing,” she said.

Ms Paterson has more experience than most tradies her age. She never loved school and, if she refused to go, her dad would drag her along to worksites, so she’s grown up around them.

“I’ve just loved plumbing ever since,” she said.

Ms Paterson loves working with her dad. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

She said clients can be shocked when she rocks up. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

The young tradie loves problem-solving, working outdoors, and collaborating with other tradies to create good work, but she also constantly faces sexism.

“People are shocked all the time, and I’ve had people catcalling me and taking photos and stuff,” she said.

For the most part, Ms Paterson said there is “a really good percentage of men” who want to support her in the male-dominated industry, but then there are others who aren’t so welcoming.

“There is a few that make it harder and you have to block that out,” she said.

She said most men are great to work with, but there are some that aren’t so welcoming. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

She’s learned to tune out the negativity. Picture: TikTok/ plumber_gal

The young tradie said she’s learned to tune out the negativity because she really loves what she does for a living.

“I like just doing something very different every day. You’ve always got a problem to solve and it is quite social,” she said.

“My dad is really proud of me.”

At the moment, she loves work because this has been the first time her dad, who usually works offshore, has been working alongside her.

“It has been so good. My dad is my best mate,” she said.

Despite the sexism, she’s also found great success. She just started her own plumbing business, and she’s been busy.

“A real bonus to being a female tradie is there are a lot of single women or elderly women that feel more comfortable with a lady in their house and are happy to see you there,” she said.

“They are so nice. I love them.”

Originally published as ‘Bring one of the boys out’: 22-year-old tradie reveals grim request she gets