The butcher shop - Not just for men anymore
France has seen a growing trend over the past few years of women entering the historically male-dominated butcher industry. The Washington Post reported, that facing a shortage of up to 5,000 butchers, the trade has began welcoming women into apprenticeship programs. Additionally, a lot of their major recruiting is now geared toward women who might be interested in joining the industry. The new artisans
Butcher shops themselves are struggling to survive as supermarkets and fast food restaurants crop up more and more throughout the country. Once thought to be heart of the French culinary industry, France has seen a loss of almost half it’s butcher shops.
But for female butchers like Stephanie Gerbier there is a reason to smile. She has be interested in the trade for most of her life. Only recently did she decide to pursue the apprenticeship despite the disapproval of her parents. “I love everything about my job. I love cutting the meat, preparing it, the interaction with the clients, giving them cooking tips,” Gerbier says. The training is not easy but the Gerbier seems to find he hard-work rewarding. “It’s more comfortable working in an office with air conditioning rather than in a refrigerator the way butchers do, [but] would never go back to my previous life,” Gerbier boasts.
There will be a tough road ahead for women wishing to break into the trade as Gerbier has but just this year saw an unprecedented victory for doubters. At this years, Federation of Butcher Shops competition, two of the three selected as the year’s top apprentice butchers were women. This marks the first time in history a woman has taken top honors. We can only hope that she will inspire other women to follow their dreams.
women, butchers, international, culinary
women, butchers, international, culinary
