Despite worldwide efforts to increase the number of women working within traditionally male-dominated occupations, the female gender continues to be significantly underrepresented.

On average, American male-dominated industries or occupations have 25 percent or fewer females on the payroll, Catalyst, an international organization promoting women in the workplace, reports. And the representation in traditional trades such as construction, states Catalyst, is considerably less and as low as nine percent.

American industrial company RPB® Safety has always taken a special interest in promoting more female representation within these occupations.

Their latest initiative, involving a breast cancer fundraising campaign, was chosen in part because of the reported fact that those working in the metalworking sector have an over 70 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company will be promoting sales of their pink industrial respirators in hopes of raising $50,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to the foundation.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates approximately five million people in the U.S. need to wear respirators for their line-of-work.