Gender in the Workplace: Personal Insights and Reflections

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Welcome back to my weekly blog post. Before diving into this week’s topic, I owe you an apology for the absence of a post last week. I had the opportunity to write and schedule it earlier in the week but, regrettably, procrastination got the best of me. With that off my chest, let’s delve into this week’s discussion: gender in the workplace.

First off, I am writing this post as a firm Roman Catholic man with strongly conservative views. This background influences my perspective, so if you see anything you disagree with, at least you will understand the foundation of my beliefs and where I am coming from in my writing.

I strongly believe that there are some workplaces that should be permanently barred from either gender due to Tradition and Biblical teaching. For example, I support the exclusion of women from the priesthood and church hierarchy (deacons, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the Pope) as set down by Church teaching and Tradition. Additionally, I would argue that military service should be reserved for men due to psychological and physical reasons.

However, this doesn’t mean that I oppose women in the workplace in general. I’ve worked with many women in various fields over the years, and I’ve generally been impressed by my female colleagues. I believe that some trades aren’t designed for a particular gender, but that’s my perspective. For women, a notable example of success in a male-dominated industry is Mary Barra, the current CEO of General Motors. She is thriving in the automotive industry, where men have traditionally dominated. Similarly, for men, Ben Carson is a role model in the medical field, an area where women have historically been the dominant force.

I think that in the construction industry, the raw building should be mostly left to men due to various factors, including:

  • Heavy materials
  • Inclement weather conditions in some parts of the country
  • Dirty conditions
  • Limited access to real washrooms, often only outhouses
  • Long hours

However, this doesn’t mean I believe women should be excluded from the construction industry. Some have proven to handle these factors (and I’ve worked with both genders who have and have not managed such conditions) so they shouldn’t be excluded just because they are women. Those who can’t handle the early stages of raw construction could still work later in the process on the interiors (flooring, insulating, drywalling, installing appliances and kitchens, etc.) or in the design and planning stages before, during, and near the end of construction.

In conclusion, gender dynamics in the workplace can be complex and multifaceted. While tradition and certain physical factors may influence opinions on specific roles, it’s essential to recognize and appreciate the unique strengths and contributions individuals bring to their professions. Many industries, such as retail and fast food, have shown that both men and women can succeed and thrive equally. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect, we can create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to excel, regardless of gender.

Creative Engineering E14: Functional Storage & Auto Rice and Sugar Cane Farm (Create Mod)

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In this episode, Swag demonstrates how to increase your storage using Functional Storage. He then builds an automated sugar cane and rice farm to gather rice, straw, and sugar cane for future projects. Swag also mentions his plan to AFK later to collect the straw needed for organic compost, which will be used in the next episode’s tree farm build.

Swag Plays Banished S2 E20 | New Hospital, New Housing, and Tragic Loss

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In this episode of Banished, our town of Otterview achieves a major milestone by stockpiling enough wood to begin construction on the hospital. Additionally, one of the stone houses is built while materials for another are delivered. Swag also greenlights work on the new trading dock while the old one awaits demolition. However, tragedy strikes as one of our hardworking citizens succumbs to starvation. Who was the unfortunate soul? Watch to find out!

Creative Engineering E13: Sorting & Processing with the Create Mod

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In this episode, Swag demonstrates how to process the results of gravel and sand sifters, including sorting crushed metals and processing them into ingots using Create. Stay tuned till the end as Swag previews how to upgrade the storage system from a double chest to a drawer system in the next episode. Watch now and discover something new!

Swag Plays Factorio S2 E27: Automating for Robotic Assistance: More Automation!

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In this episode, Swag semi-automates the production of electric engines and flying robot frames, crucial components for advancing the factory. To ensure a steady supply, he sets up an additional factory to produce engines, as the original factory’s output is entirely consumed by blue science production. Swag also boosts coal power production and demonstrates how to create a blueprint for future automated solar generation stations. Watch the full thrilling episode to see all this and more!

Swag Plays Banished S2 E19 | Building Frenzy: More Builders & Homes!

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In this extended episode of Banished, join Swag as he patiently waits for logs to accumulate while overseeing the demolition of the old trading post. To speed things up, he assigns more builders to the task. With a shortage of children and a need for future citizens, he decides to add two more stone houses to the settlement. Watch the episode to see how it unfolds, and let him know in the comments if you enjoy the longer episode format!

Swag at 40: Looking Back to Look Forward

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Greetings everyone! I’m Swagnilla Ice, but you can call me Nathan Pinno. I hail from the beautiful province of Alberta, Canada. Every week, I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences here on my Ko‑fi page. This week, in celebration of reaching the big 4-0, I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned over the past forty years, and share my aspirations for the future. Join me on this journey as I look back to look forward.

Looking Back: Lessons Learned

As I reflect on my life, there are some clear lessons that stand out. The most significant lesson I’ve learned is the truth about salvation. It’s a constant process that I need to work on daily. Whenever I lose focus on my walk with God, I tend to slip up and make mistakes. However, I’m immensely grateful to have a relationship with a forgiving God who supports me on this journey and walks by my side.

Another lesson I’ve learned is to be grateful for those who support me on my life’s journey. From my parents to good friends, both in real life and online, I’ve been fortunate to have people who encourage and support me. Even when the chips are down, they remind me to look up and not lose hope. I am immensely grateful for each and every one of them, including all those who support my content creation. Thank you!

A hard lesson I’ve learned over the last forty years is the importance of wisely managing my money and sticking to a budget while avoiding debt whenever possible. As a result of this lesson, I’m now enrolled in a program to pay off part of my credit card debt. If I fail to make my monthly payment even three times, serious consequences will follow. To make the most of my money every month, I need to take advantage of every free resource available to me. Given the instability of work, I must be ready to adapt and find ways to make ends meet when I don’t get the hours I need. Your support of my content creation is immensely helpful in this regard.

Another lesson I’ve learned through harsh experiences is that I’m human and mortal. Not only did I nearly die on the operating table during a transplant five years ago, but I also had my appendix removed just before it burst. These events have forced me to evaluate every decision I’ve made in my life and have made me determined to live a cleaner, healthier life, both physically and spiritually. I’m grateful for the resources I have and for my church family and priests—without them, I’d be like a boat lost at sea.

Looking Forward

As I look forward to the next decade of my life, I have several goals I aim to accomplish. The first and most important is to turn my content creation into a steady source of income. Through my experiences, I’ve learned that I can’t rely on an employer to provide consistent work. Your help and support, both financial and otherwise, are crucial for this goal. I aspire to go full-time with content creation, producing material that everyone can enjoy—be it blog posts, live streams, podcast episodes, or YouTube videos. While I’m committed to creating engaging content, I’ll still need to work outside my residence to earn a living without your support.

My second goal is more personal in nature. I want to have more days free of sin. I’ve been struggling with the same sin repeatedly, and it’s time for it to end. With God’s help and your prayers, I believe I can overcome this habit and become the man God wants me to be.

My third goal is to pay off my debt, even though it’s currently on track to be resolved through the program I’m enrolled in and the payments I’m making on my school loans. Once my debt is fully paid, I will avoid using debt to finance anything unless it’s a one-time-use gift card that doesn’t accumulate interest.

My final goal is to find stable housing—whether by buying my own home or buying/building an apartment building and renting out the other suites. This is a long-term goal since I’m currently in a year-long lease that expires next December, but it’s not cheap at $900 per month. Not having to worry about rent every month and potentially earning some rental income instead would be a huge relief for my financial situation.

Conclusion
To wrap up this post, let me say that I’ve learned many lessons over the past forty years—too many to list here. I’ve gained a lot of wisdom and knowledge over the years, but I am still willing to learn from those wiser than me. I have clear goals for the next decade of my life, and hopefully, when I write a similar post at fifty, I’ll have even better news to share about my goals and accomplishments. If God allows me to reach my fiftieth birthday, I look forward to reflecting on another decade of growth and learning.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post. Your support here on Ko‑fi (as well as YouTube, Spotify, and Twitch) means the world to me! Please consider supporting me monthly to gain access to exclusive polls and images, and to help me create more posts like this one and other content you will enjoy. May God bless you all!