Hey Amanda. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Who is Amanda and what do you do in your daily life?
I am 35 years old and in daily life I am a mother, wife and work at ExxonMobil as Product Quality Advisor in Rotterdam. I have a son who is almost 3 years old and the second can be born any moment.
I understand you are part of the 11 cities tour to inspire women to study engineering. What does it entail? What do you think of it? How is the tour going?
Elfstedentoer Vrouw & Techniek is an initiative of St. MilieuTec (Grace Boldewijn - owner of Bocari Engineering - is the driving force behind it). The intention is to organize eleven events in 2 years with the aim of encouraging women to choose Technology and to also encourage the business community/education/governments to attract women to technical positions and to RETAIN them in technical positions. At such a meeting, the 11 (female) role models that Grace Boldewijn has approached from the Business Community and from Education and Government institutions (women with higher positions), will share their experiences and defend positions and answer questions from the audience (the audience consists of people from Businesses/Governments/Educational institutions). After the discussion, a brainstorming session will be held with the audience divided into a number of groups, where thresholds and problems will be highlighted and solutions proposed.
Why is such a tour necessary? Do you think it works?
Such a tour is necessary. Both for the men and women from the business world. Furthermore, education must be organized in such a way that there is more "freedom" for boys and girls to develop their technical creativity. I am not thinking of secondary education, but of primary education. So also start encouraging children younger than 12 years.
Technology has a dusty image anyway and that needs to be explained through education via a different method. So you have to deal with women who have a hard time choosing technology from secondary education, if they choose a technical study, then the question is whether they choose to work in technology and then the last hurdle is, how do you keep the few women who are in technology in this branch??
Does such a tour work? Each session there are about 100-150 people in the room. Well, if all those people go back with the action points that come from brainstorming sessions, even if it is just a small action point in an organization that is implemented on the 10-20 people, it is already a big step forward. For example, there are a number of multinationals that provide free diversity training to SMEs. People who normally cannot afford it. Multinationals usually have the resources to invest in this and are therefore ahead of the rest. (still not what it should be, but people realize that diversity in your organization is a plus and do a lot to improve it).
Every little bit helps. It's about reaching people and finding them willing to commit to their organization. Furthermore, by presenting role models, you show that those women are there to move up in an organization and that they want to. Very often, the business community says that the women are not there and don't want to...
Is it true that Surinamese women represent the largest group of working women in the Netherlands? Is that explainable?
I have not been able to verify this with figures. What is true is that the mentality of Dutch society when it comes to women who want to work, want to have a career and want a family on the side, is 10s of years behind the rest of the world. Having children and having a career in the Netherlands is still “not done” for many.
When it comes to women at the top (in terms of technology), the Netherlands is also at the bottom of the world rankings together with Pakistan!
If you compare the Netherlands with the rest of Europe, childcare, school hours, etc. are much worse organised.
This problem must therefore be tackled from a number of angles if NL
You are a mother yourself and are expecting a second child. Isn't it incredibly difficult to hold such a heavy technical position as you do and also be a mother? How do you do that?
It is hard and it will be harder with a second. You just have to make very good agreements with your partner and a good division of tasks at home. Also good agreements at work. Then it is all doable.
What can be done to make it easier for women to pursue a career?
SO,….. apart from a change in mentality of men and women in NL, better regulation of childcare/after-school care/school hours, companies that have to be more flexible in terms of part-time work, duo jobs,…
Not so much….(-:)
What about Surinamese women and technology?
In the Netherlands, very few choose technology as a university study for both men and women. That is the dusty image of technology that needs to be improved and better explained, because technology is fun, is fun, you also need to let your brain cells grind and be creative in coming up with solutions.
Are you the only curly-haired person in the city tour team?
Yes, there were two other Creole women, but they were both relaxing.
How long did you relax? When did you cut your hair, why?
I relaxed from about 1985 to 2003. In between somewhere in 2000 I had my hair short and frizzy for a while. After giving birth I decided to take a break for my hair again because it was falling out so much. Since then I have a short afro and I like it so much that I have decided to keep it that way for the time being.
How do you take care of your hair? What is easier to take care of?
I wash it very often. I apply a moisturizer every morning (from Ferm) and 1-2 times a week use the mimosa hair honey before I go to sleep..My short afro is incredibly easy to maintain. My hair has a natural shine of itself and is incredibly strong. Doesn't break anymore.
What do you think about frizzy hair?
Because I have it short, it is terribly easy to maintain and it suits me very well. (at least I think so…(-;))
Since I have less time with the child(ren), and I was not a hero in taking care of my relaxed hair anyway, it is a very relaxed situation I am in now with my natural look!
Finally, do you have a message for women with frizzy hair and/or women who want to make a career?
Don't be put off by what the environment says or thinks. If you feel good about it and your family does too, just DO IT!
Create a situation in which you are in balance or which brings you into balance!
http://www.tecwomen.com/index.php?section=4&page=17