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In the 1970s, Dee Dickson was a single mother looking for work.
Here, she recalls trying to get a job as as a shipyard electrician, a profession dominated by males.
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Piece Description
In the 1970s, Dee Dickson was a single mother looking for work.
Here, she recalls trying to get a job as as a shipyard electrician, a profession dominated by males.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition, 2/18/11
Transcript
Dee Dickson: The guy that was interviewing told me I was too little, that I wouldn't get along with the guys, that they would make life hard for me. He didn't think I needed to be doing it.
And my dad said, Well, you know, my Uncle Alf is superintendent out there. I can get you on like that. Finally, at the end of that week I let my dad take me to see Uncle Alf.
So, I went the next Monday and the guy said, Look, I got the word from the top. I don't like it, but you're hired.
Then I went to the ship. And none of the guys would work with me. They said, These are men's jobs. You're taking jobs away from men who have families. I said, I have a family and no man and I need money.
It took about two weeks before I started proving myself. And the guys were doing better with it. They would work with me. I had several guys who told me, You need to slow down -- you're making us look bad. (Laug...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:It's Friday morning when we hear from StoryCorps, the project traveling the country recording people as they talk about their lives.
Today's story comes from Biloxi, Mississippi.
In 1974, Dee Dickson had separated from her husband ... and was raising
a family alone.
She tried to find work as an electrician at a nearby shipyard ...
... but found it difficult to get hired on the docks.
OUTRO:Dee Dickson in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Her interview will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the
Library of Congress.
Sign up for the StoryCorps podcast -- at NPR-dot-ORG.
Funder Ford Foundation
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Years | Fredrik | Na Na Ni. | Kora Records | 2008 | 00:24 |
Additional Credits
NPR, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, The Ford Foundation
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