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Is Chimney Sweeping a Profession for Women?

female chimney sweep

You guessed it… she is not a real sweep!

 

Women have had to fight for progress through the centuries, gaining rights such as voting and being able to obtain a higher education. In days gone by, for example, it was highly unusual for a woman to be a medical doctor. Great strides have been made, though salary equality is still not a reality in many occupations. One profession which has always been dominated and almost entirely populated by males is chimney sweeping. While it is a dirty job, there is nothing about the work that makes it an impractical pursuit for women. Though few and far between, there are female chimney sweeps in places across the world.

 

England

Gina Somerton, who grew up in Wells-Next-the-Sea, Norfolk, never dreamed of being a chimney sweep when she was young. Instead, she envisioned becoming a hairdresser. She had jobs in restaurants and as a shop assistant through the years, then her occupation took an unexpected turn in her mid-30s. Inspired by a conversation with her partner’s mom, she began to consider that becoming a chimney sweep might be the perfect source of income for her.

Gina wanted the opportunity to spend time with her three children when they were out of school for the summer, and she wanted to be her own boss. She started up a business called “Lady Sweep,” and it has been a thriving business for seven years. Gina admits that chimney sweeping is a dirty job, but all that’s needed for that is a shower after work.

Britain

A former worker at a call center, Dawn Peters is currently one of only three female chimney sweeps in all of Britain.

Dawn says that after her former employer gave her the boot, she faced limited options. Working on computer was hard for her because of medical problems. One day her partner commented that she could do a better job than a particularly rude chimney sweep that had worked on chimneys at her home, and she took up the challenge. Dawn says she went to chimney school and got started chimney sweeping.

Dawn says, “It’s a fantastic business if you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.”

Dawn cleans chimneys that use all kinds of different fuels – coal, oil, gas, and wood. It has surprised her that, in today’s society, some stove suppliers have refused to promote her because she is a woman chimney sweep.

The old legend that chimney sweeps give good luck at weddings is one that Dawn has a lot of fun with. She says, “I turn up in a top hat and tails with my traditional rod and brush, ready to pose with the happy couple or tell a limerick. It all depends on what the couple wants, but it’s supposed to bring good luck.”

While chimney sweeping is a man’s job stereotypically, Dawn says a woman can do the job; you don’t have to be strong, just fit.

The U.S.A.

Women Chimney SweepsThere are only five women in California who are CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, and Michaele Dempsey is one of them. She and her husband own a chimney sweep business and have more professional credentials than any others sweeps in Kings and Tulare Counties. Michaele attends many workshops related to chimney sweeping and says that she enjoys and has benefited from the excellent training provided by the National Chimney Sweep Guild and California’s Golden State Chimney Sweep Guild, which she is the current president of.

The chimney sweep profession today is respected, as it provides an important and much-needed service, one that can be performed with excellence by both men and women.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

Nayaug Chimney Services LLC
Kreiger Lane GlastonburyCT06033 USA 
 • 860-659-0937

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Is Chimney Sweeping a Profession for Women?

female chimney sweep

You guessed it… she is not a real sweep!

 

Women have had to fight for progress through the centuries, gaining rights such as voting and being able to obtain a higher education. In days gone by, for example, it was highly unusual for a woman to be a medical doctor. Great strides have been made, though salary equality is still not a reality in many occupations. One profession which has always been dominated and almost entirely populated by males is chimney sweeping. While it is a dirty job, there is nothing about the work that makes it an impractical pursuit for women. Though few and far between, there are female chimney sweeps in places across the world.

 

England

Gina Somerton, who grew up in Wells-Next-the-Sea, Norfolk, never dreamed of being a chimney sweep when she was young. Instead, she envisioned becoming a hairdresser. She had jobs in restaurants and as a shop assistant through the years, then her occupation took an unexpected turn in her mid-30s. Inspired by a conversation with her partner’s mom, she began to consider that becoming a chimney sweep might be the perfect source of income for her.

Gina wanted the opportunity to spend time with her three children when they were out of school for the summer, and she wanted to be her own boss. She started up a business called “Lady Sweep,” and it has been a thriving business for seven years. Gina admits that chimney sweeping is a dirty job, but all that’s needed for that is a shower after work.

Britain

A former worker at a call center, Dawn Peters is currently one of only three female chimney sweeps in all of Britain.

Dawn says that after her former employer gave her the boot, she faced limited options. Working on computer was hard for her because of medical problems. One day her partner commented that she could do a better job than a particularly rude chimney sweep that had worked on chimneys at her home, and she took up the challenge. Dawn says she went to chimney school and got started chimney sweeping.

Dawn says, “It’s a fantastic business if you don’t mind getting a bit dirty.”

Dawn cleans chimneys that use all kinds of different fuels – coal, oil, gas, and wood. It has surprised her that, in today’s society, some stove suppliers have refused to promote her because she is a woman chimney sweep.

The old legend that chimney sweeps give good luck at weddings is one that Dawn has a lot of fun with. She says, “I turn up in a top hat and tails with my traditional rod and brush, ready to pose with the happy couple or tell a limerick. It all depends on what the couple wants, but it’s supposed to bring good luck.”

While chimney sweeping is a man’s job stereotypically, Dawn says a woman can do the job; you don’t have to be strong, just fit.

The U.S.A.

Women Chimney SweepsThere are only five women in California who are CSIA Certified Chimney Sweeps, and Michaele Dempsey is one of them. She and her husband own a chimney sweep business and have more professional credentials than any others sweeps in Kings and Tulare Counties. Michaele attends many workshops related to chimney sweeping and says that she enjoys and has benefited from the excellent training provided by the National Chimney Sweep Guild and California’s Golden State Chimney Sweep Guild, which she is the current president of.

The chimney sweep profession today is respected, as it provides an important and much-needed service, one that can be performed with excellence by both men and women.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
formerly Nayaug Chimney Services, LLC
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

Chimney Inspections in Hartford, Glastonbury, 06001 Avon, 06002 Bloomfield, 06006 Windsor, 06010 Bristol, 06010 Forestville, 06011 Bristol, 06016 East Windsor, 06019 Canton, 06023 East Berlin, 06025 East Glastonbury, 06029 Ellington, 06030 Farmington, 06032 Farmington, 06033 Glastonbury, 06034 Farmington, 06035 Granby, 06037 Berlin, 06040 Manchester, 06041, 06042, 06043 Bolton, 06043, 06045, 06050 New Britain, 06051, 06051, 06052, 06053, 06066 Rockville, 06067 Rocky Hill, 06070 Simbury, 06071 Somers, 06074 South Windsor, 06078 Suffield, 06080, 06081 Simsbury, 06082 Enfield, 06083, 06084 Tolland, 06085 Farmington, 06088 East Windsor. 06089, 06090 Granby, 06092, 06093, 06095 Windsor, 06096 Windsor Locks, Hartford, 06105 West Hartford, 06106, 06107, 06108 East Hartford, 06109 Wethersfield, 06110 Elmwood, 06110, 06111 Newington, 06117, 06118, 06119, 06127, 06128, 06129, 06131 Newington, 06133 Elmwood, 06133 West Hartford, 06138, 06226 Willimantic, 06232 Andover, 06247 Hampton, 06248 Hebron, 06249 Lebanon, 06447 East Hampton, 06447 Marlborough, 06450 Meriden, 06451,06455 Middlefield, 06457 Middletown, 06459, 06475 Old Saybrook, 06480 Portland and many more CT towns

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