Breaking Gender Stereotypes

Girls completing tertiary education are thus able to occupy posts of responsibility and manage big companies today, just like their male counterparts. In almost all sectors, women are present, performing in jobs that were once reserved for men, like law enforcement, driving heavy vehicles, management jobs, architecture, masonry, bus conductor, high legal positions, journalism, fire fighting. There is less inequality now and women have secured a dignified place in the society.
Bisto Poonam: Fire Fighter

Bisto Poonam, a woman fire fighter, says “I was motivated to do this job when I saw a male fire fighter saving the life of a person and doing such a noble work. I said to myself, why not a woman as fire fighter?” She further adds that the job of fire fighter is very risky, and throughout her training, they had to use heavy equipment and drive big trucks, like the men do. She is proud to be a women fire fighter; she has the full support of her family. She points out that if men can do this job so can women and says that if they have courage, they can do any job. She encourages more women to become fire fighters as it is a very interesting job.
Nunkoo Deepty: Architect

Nunkoo Deepty, an architect, states that “architecture is a really interesting job but there are few women in this field”. She mentions that she always wanted to be an architect. She also adds that this job is very interesting but it is also very risky as she controls a whole site and sometimes she is the only woman there. She says that any accident can happen on site. She states she is very proud that she is a women architect and on the occasion of women’s international day she wants to say that every woman can do the same work as men, and nothing is difficult for a woman. Women should go ahead and study more and according to her women can work in higher positions and take up challenging jobs very well.”

Marie Darcelle: Bus Conductor

Marie Darcelle, a bus conductor, points out that she is proud of her job as she has always been admiring her brother and cousins working as bus conductors. She says she was keen to take up this job. She states that the job of a women conductor gives her more freedom than staying at home. She says that women should be very courageous to do this job as usually they do come across different types of people in a day’s work.

She mentions that a woman should know how to behave in order to gain people’s respect, whatever be the field she is working in. She mentions that her family has always encouraged her to work and that a girl can also do jobs that were once considered as men’s.

She states that women should not consider themselves weak. They should instead fight back the difficulties and show that they can work. She also encourages women to become conductors.

As changes are occurring in our society, the role of the Mauritian woman will keep progressing.