Meet These Women Plumbers This Women's History Month

These Women Changed the Plumbing Industry 

For centuries, plumbing has been a male-dominated profession. According to Statista, while under two percent of plumbers are women, this number is slowly (but surely) rising. However, that hasn't stopped certain women from entering this field. 

For example, Adrienne Bennett made waves when she became the first African-American plumber to become a master plumbing. Lillian Ann Baumbach in the 1950s was more than a pretty face; she was a plumber with over 250 pen pals in the 1950s. Although women plumbers only make up a fraction of the workforce, interested parties can learn more about their stunning achievements this Women's History Month. 

Data Suggests That Women Contractors Are on the Rise

As previously mentioned, women only make up a fraction of the plumbing industry. However, data from other sources suggest that, as a whole, more and more women are becoming contractors. Data from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America suggests that nearly nine percent of HVAC contractors are women. They are rapidly filling the 115,000 vacancies in the HVAC field. 

At this rate, women could make up a good portion of the plumbing industry by 2050. This could be just one of the many things that could bridge another gap between men and women. 

Meet the Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers 

At the turn of the 20th century, life for married women is vastly different than most people realize. For instance, women did not have the right to vote, and after marriage, there was little to do except raise a family and take care of the household. 

That's where the Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers came in. Plumbers wanted their wives to socialize while at work, so a group founded this organization to host luncheons, charity events, and "hangouts." For a while, the committee was just that. 

Yet, once women took over the committee, they changed the focus from socializing to advocacy work. One of the organization's biggest campaigns was public bathroom sanitation––namely Texaco. The committee noted that if public bathrooms were cleaner, this would limit the spread of disease. The committee was very successful – and eventually expanded their social rights campaigns to other causes, such as supporting female plumbers. 

While the Ladies Auxiliary Committee for the National Association of Plumbers now exists under a different name, it still exists. One thing's for certain: this committee has a firm place in American women's history. 

Meet Lillian Ann Baumbach, the "Pretty Plumber" 

Yet, that's just one part of her life. Not only did she go out on service calls, but she also managed her businesses for years to come. Then, in the 1950s, she became a pinup girl and many soldiers favored her in the Korean War. At one point, she had over 250 admirers––many of which proposed marriage without even meeting her face-to-face. 

Baumbach passed away at the age of 70 from leukemia. Yet, her many accomplishments live on. 

 

About West Plumbing LLC 

West Plumbing LLC strongly advocates for Women's History Month and its many pioneers. In addition to providing some fun facts this March, these professionals also offer a host of home improvement services. Contact them today for reliable Chandler plumbing services. 

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