Woman Engineer shows her mettle

Date: January 1, 1970

The article profiles a woman who defied the odds and refused to join women’s traditions careers such as nursing and teaching to became an engineer

This article may be used to:

Challenge stereotypes.
Illustrate the use of gender sensitive language.
Illustrate the power of imagery in challenging stereotypes.

Trainer’s notes

The article is a good example of how women can be positively portrayed in the media. This is evident in various forms:

– Language – the headline makes specific reference to her sex which is commendable ,

– Choice of words – mettle which not only applauds her determination but is a celebration of her courage

– Image- a simple ‘woman next door picture’ is used which challenges stereotypes and shows that anyone can be an engineer and de- mystifies the perception that engineering is difficult work and that women who get involved in it lose their feminine touch .

– This image can be interpreted in another way – one might say that the failure of the story to use a traditional image associated with engineering takes away from the woman.

The story is a good example for challenging stereotypes, Bilsland is actually quoted as saying that during her days there were limited career prospects for women in the traditional women’s careers such as nursing, but that did not stop her from venturing into something new that was unheard of for women at the time. Though the story touches on her as being wife and mother, the main focus of the article is on her achievements as an engineer. It is praiseworthy that the story did not get lose perspective and focus on this.The fact that the story actually refers to her as a mother and wife is good because it shows that even with these duties one can still excel in their chosen career, therefore motherhood and marriage should not mean an end to someone’s dream.

The article is a first hand account which makes it even more powerful ,though her husband who is also her business partner is referred to in the article ,he does not speak emphasing the point that he story is about the woman and no one else. Though the story does not give prominence to her husband, the order of words in which he is introduced could be improved. The story says that she heads a successful engineering firm with her ‘husband and business partner.’ Changing the order of the words would have improved the story, as we are looking at her as business woman, therefore her business relationship with her husband should have been mentioned first. The couple are portrayed in the story as collaborating equals.

Discussion Questions

What would you say about the portrayal of Bilsland in the article?
Who speaks in the story? And who does not. What can be said about the fact that her business partner and husband is not sourced though he is mentioned in the story?
What message (s) can be derived from the headline?
What can be said of the image?
Would more value been added to the story had it sourced more voices?

Training Exercises

Seek out examples of life/ business partners and write a series of commentaries/ first hand accounts of these relationships.
Interview men and women engaged in non-traditional activities or occupations. What let them to those activities? Were their families and friends supportive? How did other people in that industry feel about their presence? What challenges have they faced? What rewards has their choice given them?

Links to other training resources

Business Unusual Fact Sheet

Business Unusual Supplements

Whose news, whose views?

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Download : Woman Engineer shows her mettle TheSta 13Nov2008 SA