Even as more women enter Minnesota’s construction workforce, many continue to face a hostile work environment. From verbal abuse and harassment to exclusion and retaliation, stories like Laura Larson’s reflect a persistent culture of discrimination on job sites.

Larson, a mother of six, joined the construction industry six years ago, leaving behind a grueling, low-paying job. Her husband, already working in the trades, earned twice as much for fewer hours. “I was making $24 an hour, working 12-hour days, busting my butt and never saw my kids,” she said. “He would work eight-hour days and make twice as much as me. … So I decided to give it a shot.”

But what started as a hopeful career move soon turned toxic. In the summer of 2021, Larson said she was subjected to sexual harassment by both a foreman and another worker. She alleges they refused to train her and frequently hurled demeaning insults. “The male foreman and finisher frequently told the trade superintendent that women are ‘worthless [expletives]’ and they did not want to waste their time training me,” Larson stated in a lawsuit, which was later settled. While the finisher was fired, the foreman remained employed.

In a second incident in 2024, Larson said the same foreman assaulted her while she was working—kneeing her in the back and causing her to fall and hit her head. She was pregnant at the time.

“They were so incredibly disrespectful to women there,” said Larson, who now works for a different company where she says she’s finally being treated with respect. “Where I work now, I haven’t experienced any harassment. They have really been good to me.”

Larson’s experience is far from isolated. A 2021 report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that 48% of women in the trades believe they are held to a higher standard than men, and over one in four say they are “always or frequently harassed just for being a woman.”

Another woman in the industry, who asked not to be named, shared similar experiences. After speaking up about a safety issue, she said she was labeled a “snitch bitch.” When she ran her own construction company, a general contractor told her she “needed to be in the office,” not in the field. “It’s a normal, day-to-day thing,” she said of the harassment.

In more severe cases, legal action has been taken. In March, a former worker at Absolute Drywall sued under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, claiming she was fired after reporting being sexually harassed and raped on the job. The lawsuit alleges her supervisor not only dismissed her complaints but also participated in inappropriate behavior himself.

In response to the growing awareness of these problems, former superintendent Taylor Boileau has launched The Blueprint for Change, a Minnesota-based organization focused on creating safe, respectful construction sites for all workers. Through workshops, podcasts, and training programs, the nonprofit aims to change jobsite culture “one jobsite at a time.”

Boileau, who has faced harassment even in leadership roles, recalled being touched inappropriately, receiving unwanted messages, and fearing being followed. “I’ve been told I’m only on the jobsite because I check a box. I’ve been told straight up, ‘I don’t want a woman on my jobsite,’” she said.

She noted that many women are reluctant to report harassment for fear of isolation. “If you speak up, you just become further distanced,” Boileau said. “There’s a massive fear of that.”

To combat the issue, Boileau emphasized the need to create allies among male workers and support networks for women. “We will protect you. We’re here for you,” she said. “I think those are the two pieces that we really need to start focusing on if we want to make a difference.”

Despite everything, Larson doesn’t regret entering the field. “It’s been worth it,” she said, proud of the stability and respect she’s finally found. Her experience highlights both the ongoing struggle and the potential for change—if the industry is willing to listen and act.

Originally reported by Brian Johnson in Finance & Commerce.