Bricklayer hits back at men who say she’s ‘not strong enough’ for traditionally male job

Darcie bought into bricklaying working along with her father’s development enterprise (Image: Triangle Information)

As a girl – and at a peak of simply 5ft 2in – Darcie Richards doesn’t match the mould of the stereotypical bricklayer.

Being on a constructing website is usually considered a male function, and this lazy trope has led to the 26-year-old being focused by trolls on-line.

Darcie, from Outdated Buckenham, Norfolk has over 200,000 followers on TikTok, the place she shares movies about her life within the development trade in addition to bricklaying ideas.

Her gender and measurement have apparently angered commenters on these movies, with some telling her she’s ‘not robust sufficient’ or ‘too gradual’ to do a historically male job.

‘Effectively this must be essentially the most unattractive factor I’ve seen a girl do immediately,’ wrote one individual beneath a current add.

Not one to draw back from misogynistic jibes, Darcie replied with a video displaying her lifting heavy blocks and climbing up ladders on website, with the caption: ‘Simply since you really feel emasculated, doesn’t make me unattractive! #iambeautiful #letmebeme #bricktok #empowering.’

Over 16,000 feedback flooded in from individuals defending her, with one saying ‘I believe that is essentially the most superior and enticing factor I’ve seen all day.’

‘Hilarious when different persons are offended by inspiring, impartial, hard-working ladies doing what they do and doing it properly,’ stated one other.

As much as 99% of the those that work on UK constructing websites are males, with Darcie regarded as one of many few feminine bricklayers within the nation.

As she is aware of she stands out towards the standard brickie, she’s no stranger to hitting again when individuals doubt her.

She now has over 200k followers on TikTok (Image: Triangle Information)

Darcie says: ‘I do get some destructive feedback from individuals on-line. If I do, it's at all times from males.

‘They only see a lady and assume it’s pathetic or that I need consideration; they don’t assume I’m robust sufficient or I'm too gradual. One man even stated it was unattractive.’

Working at her dad Ricky’s development firm, Richards Builders, with brothers Louis and Jody, was Darcie’s route into the trade. She now works for Ley Brickwork, and was made an envoy for Scruff’s workwear’s model new ladies’s line.

Darcie says different ladies have gotten in contact saying she evokes them to enter historically male careers (Image: Triangle Information)

Darcie says documenting her day-to-day (and the help she will get in consequence) has been an eye-opening expertise: ‘There have been so many women, lots of, who've come to me and stated how a lot of an inspiration I'm to them.

‘They assume it’s superior and they're going to do the identical.

‘Nevertheless it’s not simply ladies, half of my followers are males, who're additionally actually blissful to see us getting into the commerce.’

Although coping with ignorant feedback isn’t good, Darcie says they’re fortunately the minority.

‘Fortunately, the positivity outweighs the negatives within the lots of of 1000's,’ she says.

‘I'm actually pleased with myself. I didn't assume I might ever be ready to assist anyone. Now I've a platform and one thing to say and persons are listening.’