ANGLEC’S WOMEN IN STEM – 2019 WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
This year ANGLEC will be joining in the celebration of International Women’s Day/Month for the first time by featuring the stories of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related posts/functions at ANGLEC and promoting the official IWD theme for 2019 #BalanceForBetter.
GETTING TO KNOW HER
Eulalie Dupuis,
My name is Eulalie Dupuis, I live in Sandy Hill Anguilla. I am fifty-nine years old. I am the fourth of eight children. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to attend secondary school, but I was content to stay and take care of home.
I lived in St. Maarten with my aunt during my teen years and that is where I met my husband. I returned to Anguilla and started my family and I was blessed with four children namely Clemencia, Eulanda, Davidson and Dillon. I was a housewife and did a few house keeping jobs when my children where growing up.
In 1994 I was encouraged by a friend to apply to ANGLEC for a meter reading /messenger position. I also had an interest in becoming a linesman but that was a concern for ANGLEC at the time as there were no women in the field and certain safety gear was not available for me, so unfortunately that never happened. However, I was the first female meter reader at ANGLEC and I felt proud to work alongside the other meter readers. I have been employed at ANGLEC for twenty-five (25) years. I have recently been transferred to the area of Customer Service and work primarily as a receptionist.
1. What is your favourite song?
My favorite song is “I will always love you” by Whitney Houston.
2. What is your favourite hobby?
My favorite hobby is cooking.
3. Who was your role model growing up and why?
Growing up my role model was my father James Rogers (bka Bruce). My dad was a very kind, yet strict with me and my siblings. He was a sharp dresser and had an obvious style to his dressing. My mom died when I was about six years old and life was rough for him as a single parent with eight children. I was raised with a bit of tough love as my dad had to play the role of both parents. He had different nick names for me, but his favorite was “Tunka.” He owned a small shop in Sandy Hill and when it was time to restock he always called “Tunka’ to go with him, in his truck to help him lift 50llbs bags of rice, sugar and potatoes etc. He also owned a fishing boat which he called “De Eulalie”. Every other morning at 5 am I accompanied him just to row the boat to the fish pots and he would just sit and watch me. I also accompanied him to work in the farm, climb the mango trees and tend to the animals. I adored my father and, in many ways, wanted to be like him because of his strong work ethic and he tried his utmost best with the little he had. While he was rough on me and my siblings he maintained his pride and tough love until he died in 2007.
4. What was your favourite subject in school?
My favorite subject was house craft
5. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
It would have to be steam fish and fungi (with okra)
6. What is your favorite part about your job?
Meeting and communicating with customers.
7.What would you say is the hardest part of your job?
Having to deal with aggressive people.
BALANCE FOR BETTER WITH Eulalie
The official theme for International Women’s Day 2019 is “Balance for Better”. Balance for better means fighting for more gender-balance in the world.
- Why do you think gender-balance is important?
For everything in life, a balance is necessary for proper existence and the same should apply to women.
- In your opinion, how could men and women work together to create a more gender balanced world?
Understanding that there are tasks that can be done by both male and female, if we try harder.
- How do you find ways to thrive in a male dominated field?
I grew up in a male dominated household and performed “manly” tasks such as lifting heavy bags with rice, sugar and potatoes, pulling fish pots and working on the farm at home, then working in the filed as a meter reader. Being a woman never really stopped me because I put my mind to it and told myself that I could do it and the tasks eventually came natural to me.
- How do you achieve work/life balance as a working woman?
Work/ Life is a routine. Times for work is a set time, where I ensure that I achieve all my goals/ task for any given day so that when I am off work I can ensure my mind is clear so that I can enjoy my personal life.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
- Would you encourage other women and girls in Anguilla to pursue STEM related jobs, if so why?
Yes, I would encourage women/ girls in Anguilla to pursue STEM because it is a very important part of knowledge and education.
- What would you say to young women who may be interested in the STEM fields?
I would encourage them to focus and be able to work independently.
- What would have encouraged you along your journey as a young woman interested in STEM related work?
Having support in STEM would have encouraged me to push harder to get into the field of becoming a linesman. That was my dream when I first came to ANGLEC but I had to let it go because things like shoes and leg support were not available for me, and some men were not comfortable with the idea at the time. There were a few guys at ANGLEC that encouraged me and wanted to teach me how to climb so maybe if there was more support for women in STEM related areas back then, I could have been a linesman or lineswoman.
- What would you encourage, educators, parents and guardians to do to ensure the advancement of young women in STEM related studies?
I would tell them to support, encourage, assist and advise the women. Help them to believe in themselves knowing the sky is the limit and nothing is impossible and if you focus you can accomplish anything.
Stay tuned for more features and for more information on IWD click here. Want information on female linesmen? Visit https://bit.ly/2XUS9am
