Sometimes voluntourism gets a bad rap. Why? Some activities ignore the true needs of the people receiving “help.” Others are outright exploitative. For more on the ethics of voluntourism and volunteering, check out my article on World Footprints.
So, do your research and make sure your volunteer project of choice is a good one. Then, don this amazingly cute safety gear and have fun!
Cutest Voluntourism Boots on the Block
After the pandemic, I needed new boots. After two years of shelf life, I took a pair to a volunteer construction project and was mortified when the soles literally disintegrated, looking like clods of dirt on the floor.
The next day, I wore another pair of boots, only to find that the upper had separated irreparably from the sole.
I needed boots in a hurry, and a construction volunteer friend told me about Xena Workwear. For years, I’d been wearing boots that were either purchased from the men’s department or looked like they were. But the Xenas were stylish – they didn’t even look like work boots! Yet they had the safety toe, slip resistance, and coverage that my occupations required.
I wondered, though, would they hold up? I gave mine a whirl on a day when I was up and down ladders, dusty, and using lots and lots of drywall mud.
They came home dirty. But they wiped clean with just a damp sponge.
And then I decided to go shopping in them, wearing them with a casual outfit because they are just that cute.
Learn more about safety boots for women.
Everything in Pink
As mentioned above, my construction boots often came from the men’s clothing department. But so did all my other safety attire and gear.
Plain old men’s tees, size XS? Check. Men’s high vis vests and shirts? Check. Men’s cargo pants in confusing men’s sizes? Check. Gloves that were too big for my hands because medium was the smallest size the hardware store carried? Check, check, check.
I really, really wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin on the construction sites. Over time, I found a few local retailers that sold small gloves and pink hard hats. But today, my go-to resource is Safety Girl.
Safety Girl carries an array of products that allow you to be girly while still staying safe. Pink hard hats? Check. Work shirts, gloves, and pants that actually fit? Check. Pink-rimmed safety glasses in pink? Yep, they’ve got that, too.
Of course, I still have a few pink favorites lurking elsewhere on the internet. Stihl’s cotton candy glasses are ANSI standard Z87.1+ (if you need it, you know what I’m talking about). They have also been my favorite casual sunglasses for years.
Then there’s the pink surveyor’s vest I found on Amazon. You see, solid pink safety vests aren’t alwasys workplace compliant, but this one has safety yellow, safety orange, and reflective strips in addition to the large pink pockets. It there meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Class 2 Compliance Standards. Again, if your work requires it, you’ll understand.
Voluntourism: Inspiring the Next Generation
When I was a kid, working in construction was not on the table. A teacher, doctor, or veterinarian? Sure, those were the “it” jobs. What about an astronaut or an Olympic athlete? Yes, my Barbie doll did those things. I even had a paleontologist Barbie!
But in recent years, more women have entered STEM careers, including construction trades. That means that more women have the skills to work on charitable construction projects.
The best way to inspire the next generation is to share your experiences with them. Let them see you in your pink hardhat. And, it doesn’t hurt that Barbie is a construction worker with a pink hardhat, now, too.
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One part Lois Lane, one part Jimmy Olsen, one part Johnboy Walton, and a bit of that Clark Kent secret identity thing thrown in for good measure.
Cara Siera is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for travel and exotic cuisine. Join Cara, her husband Marc, and one very spoiled German Shepherd on their next great adventure.
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