Five women on the path to gender equality

“I was born in Singapore and came to France in 2002 to continue my studies in building construction. I was ambitious, and I wanted to discover the world. I was hired at Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France – Construction Privée as a works supervisor. I was never told in so many words that I was doing a man’s job, but twenty years ago, I had to put up with a lot of teasing and macho remarks that always reminded me that I was a woman. In 2021, women on the worksites are regarded much differently. We have a role to play in showing that professions in engineering or architecture are also open to women. We must eliminate the stereotypes that are so pervasive in the building and civil works sector and change perceptions from a very early age. I’m in the technical department at Bouygues Bâtiment International today, and I’ve had the opportunity to work on very big projects like Ocean Cay, in the Bahamas, the Longchamp racecourse, in Paris, and the CFC tower, in Morocco. In a team of men and women from diverse cultural backgrounds, I manage people who are sometimes older than me, and I encourage everyone to share their opinions. In my view, a female manager who is successful in her job and her private life is a source of inspiration for all women in the company. At school, I was taught that nothing is impossible, that I could do things just as well as a boy of my age. Being educated in this way enabled me to develop. If I can apply for a position that interests me, I will do so without hesitation, because there’s no question of letting an opportunity pass by.”

“Early in my consulting career, I remember often suffering from an inferiority complex. I thought others were doing a better job than me, and what’s more, they knew how to capitalize on it. But with more experience, and with my good performance giving me more confidence, I realized that was not the case. Recognizing my worth enabled me to progress professionally. I’ve never had the impression that my being a woman was an advantage or disadvantage. In the masculine settings where I’ve mainly worked, I even saw it as something positive. I think the measures taken in favor of women, whether in salary policies or appointments, work against us because they do not put us on an equal footing. In my view, parenthood is the area where action is needed first. If fathers were more involved in parenting, and as of the pregnancy, it would create a different dynamic. As a mother of two children, I always accepted being unable to get to the office by eight o’clock and to leave at eight, but I think men are less inclined to accept these constraints. And that should change. All women who have raised children while pursuing a career should receive the Legion of Honor. But in the end, that situation turned out to be positive since it taught me how to focus on the essential and to deal with more responsibilities. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my children. Women have a natural tendency to doubt themselves, to be self-questioning. It’s almost a malady. Men, on the other hand, are much more assertive. When I was promoted to customer relations director at BTBD, I asked myself, “Why me?” I knew I was qualified for the job, but I didn’t automatically accept it as my rightful place. My advice is to have confidence in yourself, be assertive, and if you think you know.”