Women workers are establishing an identity for themselves in the traditionally male-dominated work world of mechanics, carpenters, construction workers, technicians, and engineers, drawn by incentives ranging from higher pay to training and advancement opportunities. Of the over 12.5 million women employed in industrial and service occupations, over 18% are blue collar workers. The movement of women into nontraditional jobs is relatively new in America, originating on a small scale during World War I and recurring on a much larger scale during World War II. In the period immediately following World War II, the percentage of women in industry declined as they were displaced by returning servicemen. Today, with the support of anti-discrimination legislation, women are re-emerging among blue collar workers. In the mid-1970's women represented about 18% of the 29 million blue collar workers in the United States; almost half a million women were working in skilled occupations. The primary motivating factors for women to seek nontraditional employment include pay equity, readily available training opportunities at community or junior colleges or through apprenticeship programs, increased eligibility for credit based on higher wages, and opportunities for promotion and advancement. While sexism and discrimination present the same problems for today's nontraditional women wokers as they did for their World War II counterparts, major strides have been made in changing attitudes, employment policies, education, and the meaning of male and female work. (EJV)