Brigida during her graduation ceremony
“I decided to pursue engineering to prove and make other women understand that society’s stereotypes cannot stop them, because in the reality girls and boys have the same ability…what we need it’s to find out what we are passionate for and follow our hearts,”- Brigida Saide, Graça Machel Trust Scholar – Mozambique.
Women continue to face many challenges that are related to gender stereotypes and these most often shadow their vision and dreams of what they want to become in future.
We asked Graça Machel Trust Scholar Brigida Saide to share with us her journey in becoming an engineer in a male dominated industry, what balance means to her and how she is contributing to the transformation of Africa.
Why did you decide to study engineering? Any gaps in society that you want to address?
Unlike me, some women are not comfortable to study engineering. Although traditional gender roles are becoming more and more blurred, there are still fields that are seen as typical for women and men. We (the society in general) somehow grow up with this image in our heads that when we go to the hairdresser, a woman will style your hair and if we have to get a car fixed, a man will help us out.
Even at school, the teachers put into the girls mind that courses that involve a lot of logical thinking or subjects as math, physics, and chemistry are made for men because girls are less intelligent and cannot solve difficult problems. I have heard these words many times. When I was in high school and university, words that have made a lot of girls give up on their dreams. Therefore, I decided to pursue engineer to prove and make other women understand that society’s stereotypes cannot stop them, because in reality girls and boys have the same ability. What we need it’s to find out what we are passionate for and follow our hearts.
The same goes for engineering, it isn’t written anywhere that engineering is for men, but our society assumes that only men can succeed in this field. We find many women that succeed and that inspire other women. I’m sure if you imagine a typical engineer, I would not be the kind of person that pops in your mind. But I can assure you that there are also very good female engineers and if more women keep choosing this field maybe one day we can change these perceptions. I really would like to inspire girls to pursue engineering degrees and careers.
What was your experience studying engineering as a woman? Given that women are largely underrepresented in this sector.
I do not regret my decision to study engineering, but I have to admit that there have definitely been lows and highs during this time. It’s true that during my journey I found support and encouragement from fellow students as well as professors who really understand the pressures from our perspective as women and helped me succeed.
I had also witnessed a lot of gender stereotypes and discrimination in this field, mostly at school. For instance, when a woman gets a bad grade it is because she is trying to do something that is designed for men who are intelligent and able to solve engineering problems. On the other hand, if a woman gets a good grade she is accused of using her femininity to flirt her way to get a good grade. The idea that women can be intelligent too, understand engineering’s problems, and be able to work hard seemed much too ridiculous of an idea, that any one consider.
I think that being female in engineering has been incredibly difficult, not because the coursework is challenging but because you have to work much harder to be heard and taken seriously. The universities and society in general should fight to destroy all these believes, we really need a generation where gender roles and stereotypes were already broken, so that women would not have to worry about being discriminated against by their gender when they have the intelligence to readily back them up.
How are you using the knowledge and skills you gained from your engineering degree?
As a student, I had the opportunity to develop not just my study skills, but also many other skills useful in life. I also participate in women issues such as gender equality, women empowerment and academic opportunities for girls.
Recently, I took part in a survey about domestic violence against women in Mozambique and in a campaign to raise their voices to be heard in order to reduce the violence these women face every day. In addition, I help girls in their applications to universities in my country or to study aboard.
How do you see yourself contributing to the transformation of your society and Africa?
There are so many crucial global issues involving women we have to care about such as economic exclusion; financial systems that perpetuate their discrimination; limited participation in political and public life; lack of access to education and poor retention of girls in schools; gender-based violence; harmful cultural practices and so on, issues that we need to band together to address.
I am very passionate about making a difference, and since I have obtained my degree in a field dominated mainly by men, I will have the “standing” to be able to inspire and bring other women with me. Whether it’s through volunteer work, writing to a political representative, social media or ‘hashtag’ activism to change people’s mindsets about women and form a huge group fighting for the same cause, taking part in a protest, or encouraging girls to follow their dreams, I will use all resources to change people’s mind and improve the women’s situation in my Society, Africa and the world. In fact, it doesn’t matter which country or continent a person is from, at the end of the day we all belong the same globe.
Any other thoughts, feelings, reflections you would like to share?
In the past was rare to find women going to school, my grandmother still tells me that in her high school she was constantly reminded by her teachers that women belong in the kitchen. But through all these years, things are starting to change and nowadays (even if in a small scale) it’s possible to see women pursing either engineering or science fields. Therefore, I believe this is our time to change the game, to bring notable transformations… If women before us have proven it’s possible and paved the way, allowing us to be educated, have our voices heard (even if not completely) and given a fair shot. Why can’t we do more? Now, we have the opportunity to stand up off the bench and show the world what we’ve got and that we can move further.
Women should put in our minds that we are different yes, we are valuable in the way God made us (and we are proud of that) and our perspectives and ideas can definitely change the world. We can be great in everything we really want, so never ever change who you are to fit in.
Your experience at work and what does the future hold for you.
My workplace is formed by 80% of men (from my previous jobs up to know, we use to be 2 or 3 women). My tasks involve designing solutions for problems related with petroleum exploration, analyzing data in order to provide meaningful details about different reservoir samples as well as look for all aspects connected with HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) at work. I also dedicated my time to projects or researches about women issues in Mozambique.
Being female in a male dominated workplace challenges me to see the importance of being myself rather than trying to change myself, my style or opinions to fit in a male dominated environment.
I hope to be a CEO or Chairwoman in a company with high prestige and reputation. I would like to help other women develop their technical skills as well as self-confidence at work so that they can apply more for engineering positions, and those in mid-level management to move up to senior positions.
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