IT'S not easy being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. But for TT-born plumber Judaline Cassidy, it was not only about breaking barriers for herself but also inspiring young women and girls into trade careers.
The L'Oreal Paris 2023 Women of Worth honoree and "superhero in a hard hat" is a woman of many hats, including a history-making plumber, non-profit founder, and activist behind the trademarked phrase, "jobs don't have genders."
The gregarious tradeswoman chatted with Newsday last week from her plumbing shop in New York.
Originally from Carey Street, Diego Martin, she grew up very poor in a house of only women.
While attending the then Diego Martin Government Secondary (now Diego Martin Central Secondary) she recalled when the computer was introduced, she struggled with typing. She was placed in the technical drawing class and was the only girl there.
At school, she was "always with the guys" playing football, basketball, and cricket, though with the latter sport they knew she "sucked" and would put her far in the "outfield."
"Because I can't catch for nothing. But because I was part of the group, they would keep me but still on the outside. Way, way, way deep," she said laughing.
At secondary school, she chose subjects based on her initial plan of becoming a lawyer. But when her great-grandmother who took care of her passed away, she realised she would not have the money for the University of the West Indies.
She then decided the John Donaldson Technical Institute was her best option and signed up for the plumbing course. Cassidy explained the choice was because of her very strategic nature.
"And I wanted to increase my odds of getting into the school. So, I knew of a lot of women would be applying for the seamstress (course), the tailoring, the cooking, and all of those things. I figured hardly any women would think of the plumbing or the electrical.
[caption id="attachment_1038467" align="alignnone" width="1022"] Tools & Tiaras founder Judaline Cassidy with an attendee at one of the non-profit organisation's camps. -[/caption]
"So, I figured that with plumbing I would get wet, electrical I would get shocked. So, I think wet was sounding so much better than shocked," she said, laughing again.
Her initial plan was to teach plumbing at secondary schools, and she had no idea it would become her career for more than 25 years.
At John Donaldson, Cassidy was one of three girls in the plumbing class but the other two eventually dropped out.
"From the minute I started doing it, I fell in love with it immediately."
She continued: "I think what attracted me to plumbing and still keeps me madly in love with it is (that it's) very problem-solving. And I love to solve problems. I never look at things and say, 'Oh my gosh, I can't do this.' I look at it and figure how can I fix it. And plumbing does that on a daily basis."
She pointed out she recently had to solve a problem for one of her clients after many other professionals had checked it and could not fix it. She sai
