Don't Take "MAN" Out of Manufacturing or "MEN" Out of Menopause

By: Cathy Droz

During a hearing on February 12, 2025, a female lawmaker argued that maybe fewer women work in manufacturing because the word "man" is in the name. *

Now, I’m all for equality and inclusion. Women and men should be paid equal for the same work, have the same opportunities for promotions, and be chosen for key roles based on qualifications, not gender. But should we really be rethinking words like "manufacturing" just because they contain "MAN” Should female medical students decide not to become gynecologist because “MEN” is in Menopause?

I've spent over twenty-five years helping male-dominated industries understand what women want in sales, service, customer experience and one-on-one conversations; especially in the automotive industry. ?I’ve encouraged manufacturers and dealerships to create better career paths for women and ensure they have fair opportunities at every level. While progress has been made, leadership roles in manufacturing are still largely male-dominated. Having Mary Barra as CEO of General Motors is a great step forward, but that doesn’t mean all companies with female leaders are providing the same level of opportunity for women.

But let’s pause for a second—should we take "men" out of words like "meningitis" or "mental health" too?? The term "manufacture" comes from the Latin words manus (meaning "hand") and (“to make.”) It originally referred to making things by hand and has nothing to do with gender. Changing the word won’t change workplace culture or opportunities for women.

In my opinion the way to change the workplace or the reputation of a particular industry is to listen to the needs of both men and women in your industry.? We can’t always assume that women want special shifts because they have a family, nor judge when they want equal pay for the same job as their counterpart.? There are men who need help with shifts because they are single parents or work two jobs. ??However, the top issues women have for not entering manufacturing or why they leave are:? Sexual harassment, less pay than their counterpart, safety equipment to better serve the female and family consideration.?

See What Rolls Royce has done…

Rolls-Royce has integrated diversity, inclusion, and belonging into its corporate culture through initiatives like "Being Like Me," where employees share personal stories to promote openness and psychological safety. The company has achieved gender parity on its board and appointed its first female chair, Anita Frew. Despite progress, challenges remain in achieving gender diversity in engineering and technology sectors. **

In my opinion:

With the use of AI in the manufacturing industry, people may fear the loss of their jobs to some robot that can get the job done ten times faster and save the company millions.? However, there will be people driven jobs with the use of AI so start looking to educate and employ these genius men and women by enticing them with what the industry is missing.

While I support using inclusive language where it makes sense like changing "stewardess" to "flight attendant" we shouldn’t rewrite history just because a word happens to contain "man." The real focus should be on creating workplaces that value diversity, offer equal opportunities, and encourage mentorship. Changing words won’t fix deeper issues like biased hiring practices or workplace cultures that make it harder for women to succeed.

Now, back to menopause—something I wouldn’t wish on any man! The word comes from the Greek men (meaning "month") and pausis (meaning "stop"), referring to the end of a woman’s possibility of having babies. ?It has nothing to do with men, despite the name. So, should we rename it "womenopause" just to be more inclusive?

The bottom line? True equality comes from action, not just changing words. Let’s focus on real solutions that give both men and women the opportunities they deserve.

?

*Forbes

**Source: FT.com Financial Times

www.hercertified.com Forbes Financial Times Rolls-Royce Mary Barra Anita Frew DBE Deborah Wahl Angela Zepeda Roger Conant