The participation of females in non-traditional trades has been low. While various explanations are offered in the skills literature for the low representation of females, gender norms tend to be the dominant explanation. Females are often portrayed as conformists to gender norms. This article examines the responses of females in the automotive trade in Ghana, to gender norms that could adversely affect their participation in the trade, as well as the barriers to achieving independence. It draws on interviews with 13 female participants in the automotive trade in Ghana. The analysis shows that the craftswomen are critical of gender norms. On the other hand, a key barrier to achieving independence which is lack of access to land/a stable place of work, rather has the potential to negatively impact their continued participation in the trade. © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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