HGTV star Mina Starsiak Hawk discusses staying safe, navigating bias, and carving out space for women to thrive in the construction industry.
What workwear or safety gear do you rely on most, and how important is comfort when you’re on the job?
I would say eyewear and gloves are the most crucial, as they can protect against the most common workplace injuries. Comfort is a critical, and often underrated, factor for workwear because it directly influences whether a worker will consistently wear the equipment and wear it correctly. When personal protective equipment is uncomfortable, workers are less likely to use it, which significantly increases their risk of injury.
What has been the most challenging part of stepping into construction projects as a woman, and how have you overcome it?
Not being taken seriously, being underestimated, and being jerked around because people think I won’t know enough to know any better or I won’t be aggressive enough to challenge them. To be quite honest, I don’t think I have overcome it, as that would require the other half of the equation to make changes, which I have yet to see happen. I am able to deal with it; I am clear, considerate, reasonable, and do what I say I am going to do, and I expect the same of anyone I am working with. Oftentimes, I have had to end contractor relationships due to not being given these simple behaviors in return.
As someone balancing TV projects, construction work, and family, how do you take care of yourself on and off the job site?
Again, not so well. I try to create balance in my life, but with the pace it has run over the last decade, that has been challenging. I am a hard worker and place much of my value as a human on what I am able to accomplish. As I have gotten older, I have been able to adjust that viewpoint and recognize the value in spending more time with my family, more time on myself, and less time in the hustle. On the job site, I try to keep the outlook that, while I want everything done now, the world won’t stop spinning if something interferes with that.
What changes or innovations in tools, safety gear, or training would make the biggest difference for women in construction today?
Honestly, just things scaled to fit smaller bodies. I have yet to find a tool belt that doesn’t hang to my knees with the hammer hook so low that the hammer hits my shins. I understand it is a male-dominated industry and products are made for the masses, but the comfort and convenience created by a well-fitting pair of gloves, work pants, and tool belt would be huge for women day to day.
What message would you share with young women who may not see themselves represented in the skilled trades?
No one is going to do the work for you. You have to want it badly enough to put yourself out there and educate yourself in a way that you feel confident every time you set foot onto a job site, so no amount of misogyny can affect your resolution or work.
