Yamile Julio Castillo
Intern in the Philippines
Tarija, Bolivia

Q: What is it like to be a young woman in a male-dominated field?

A: Being a young woman in a male-dominated field can be a very hard situation. At the beginning of my career and during my first year of study, I had to face many difficulties like people underestimating my physical capacity as a woman in the forestry field, as opposed to my capacity as a student. Many male colleagues used to think that I was not able even to walk in the forest and that I was not strong enough to deal with certain inconveniences, like carrying my own back pack or drinking non-potable water, because I was a woman and was weak.

During the next couple years the situation became easier. My classmates gained respect for me and I got a lot of their appreciation (what many gender authors would call "invisible power"). They became more protective of me instead of competitive and with many of them we would support each other. However, one day during a field trip one of my teachers asked me why I was so enthusiastic about studyi...