There’s something I want you to notice.
Not change.
Not fix.
Just notice.
When you think about yourself at work…
Do you say:
“I’m a mechanic.”
Or
“I’m a female mechanic.”
Same job. Same skills. Same person.
But sometimes… very different feeling.
The Same Words, Two Completely Different Energies
“I’m a female tradie” can feel powerful.
Like:
I’ve pushed through things a lot of people don’t see.
I’ve earned my spot here.
I can handle this.
There’s pride in that. Ownership. Strength.
But the same sentence can also feel like this:
Take it easy on me.
I’m not as strong as the boys.
Don’t expect too much.
Same words.
Completely different identity behind them.
And that identity?
That’s what shapes how you show up.
Where This Shows Up (Without You Realising)
Sometimes it’s subtle.
- You hesitate to take on a task
- You second-guess yourself before even starting
- You shrink back in conversations
- You assume someone else will do it “better”
And sometimes… it’s not even you.
It’s:
- A boss making assumptions
- A coworker lowering expectations
- Someone “going easy” on you when you didn’t ask for it
That’s when it starts to get tricky.
Because if you’re not aware of it, you can start believing it.
First Step: Catch It
No judgment.
Just awareness.
Ask yourself:
- Am I using this label to empower myself… or limit myself?
- Does this thought make me feel stronger or smaller?
That’s it.
Because once you see it, you can do something about it.
If It’s Coming from Other People
You’ve got options.
You can:
- Have the conversation
- Call it out calmly
- Set expectations
(And if you want help with that — go back to your tools around difficult conversations, bias, and workplace dynamics.)
But the biggest shift?
Not automatically agreeing with it internally.
If It’s Coming from You
This is where we do the real work.
Because let’s be honest, you can’t go from:
“I’m weak”
straight to
“I’m strong”
Your brain will laugh at you.
So instead… we build a bridge.
The Thought Ladder (This One Changes Things)
Instead of jumping from one extreme to another, you move one step at a time.
So instead of:
“I’m weak”
You go to:
“I’m building strength”
Feels different, right?
More believable.
More grounded.
More… real.
And that’s the key.
How to Know If It’s Working
Two simple checks:
1. Do you believe it?
Even just a little bit?
2. Does it feel better in your body?
Less tight. Less heavy. Slightly more open?
That’s your sign you’re on the right step.
More Examples You Can Use
Instead of:
- “I’m not confident” → I’m building confidence
- “I’m bad at this” → I’m learning this
- “I always mess up” → I’m improving with practice
Instead of forcing a huge leap…
you take one step you can stand on.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Because the way you identify yourself…
Quietly shapes:
- The risks you take
- The opportunities you go for
- The way people respond to you
- The standard you hold yourself to
You don’t need to pretend to be something you’re not.
You just need to stop reinforcing something that keeps you small.
Final Thought
You don’t have to remove the label.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone.
But if you are going to say:
“I’m a female tradie”
Make sure it feels like power…
not permission to play small.
Because the difference isn’t in the words.
It’s in what you believe those words mean about you.
