Loading ...Every year on 8 March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD).
International Women’s Day provides a common day for internationally recognising women’s accomplishments and noting the importance of gender discrimination.
The UIC staff consists of more than 50% women who work very hard to ensure that UIC is a prominent place to learn English and foreign languages. To celebrate, we asked some women who work in UIC four question about themselves and here are the answers.
1.Any women that have inspired you in your life? I admire the following women who are/were successful, intelligent and beautiful,
but also down to earth:
- Diana Princess of Wales
- Joanna Lumley
- Kristen Scott Thomas
2. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment as a woman? Beating off male competition to become Principal of UIC!!
3.How do men and women get treated differently? It’s harder for women in some job roles / industries to get to the top of the career ladder. When driving – men think women are rubbish drivers. Some jobs are still seen as male/female e.g. cleaners, nurses (women) /builders, engineers (men). Childcare usually falls to the woman.
4.What qualities do you think a 2012 woman has? A multi-tasker who can juggle working life with a family and still have her own interests and enjoy life. Someone who can be as good as a man!
Claire Woollam,Principal
1. Any women that have inspired you in your life? Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie , Meryl Streep and, of course Kylie
2. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment as a woman? Doing all the DIY at home without any man in sight
3.How do men and women get treated differently? Women, in some industries, have to work harder to get the same pay and work conditions as men. Toilets!
4.What qualities do you think a 2012 woman has? Independence and confidence
Wendy Maitland
Director of Studies
1. Any women that have inspired you in your life? Well, my mum has definitely inspired me. Not only because of the things she’s done with her life but because of the integrity she lives her life with, how she treats people and what she values.Another woman who has inspired me is an Indian saint known as Ammachi. She travels the world hugging people,raising funds for charity, building houses for poor people and creating schools. She’s a religious ambassador for the UN and I think she’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved using warmth and care.
2. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment as a woman? I’d say my biggest accomplishment as a woman is doing what boys can do, in a womanly way. For example, I used to play football, which a very male sport, but I always felt like I was myself and earned the respect of my coaches and male players without having to act like a boy. I was that girl who put mascara on before a match!
3.How do men and women get treated differently? It depends; sometimes it’s good to be a woman. You get served quicker in bars! People can be friendlier than they might be with a man. But the downside is that men are often taken more seriously, have more professional freedom and aren’t judged nearly as much as women. I think women judge themselves more than men, and are also judged by others a lot than men are.
4.What qualities do you think a 2012 woman has? I think the women of 2012 are driven, ambitious and intelligent. They expect a lot and see themselves as being (more than) equal to men. On the other hand, I think the woman of 2012 often struggles to balance all areas of her life, professionally, personally, emotionally, etc, and can often feel overwhelmed.
Jade Doherty,
Student Officer
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