Jobs to Move America (JMA) teamed up with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event showcased the “Women Can Build” photography exhibit, which reveals the overlooked contributions of skilled and hard-working women who are building our buses and trains. In attendance were Caltech students, faculty, staff, and community members. The participants heard from two Caltech Professors, Azita Emami and Simona Bordoni, who commented on how women around the world are fighting for and achieving equal rights, equal pay and opportunity in the workplace.
"It was hard to find female role models in engineering when I was growing up in Iran. In the United States, it has gotten better, but we still have a long way to go," said Emami, professor of electrical engineering and deputy chair of engineering and applied science at Caltech. "Most women don't start with high salaries and are less likely to negotiate later in their careers. To truly address inequalities such as these, women and men need to work together," she continued.
The “Women Can Build” exhibit at the Caltech Student Services Building features 10 photos of modern “Rosies,” women across the nation who build trains and buses, taken by Pulitzer Prize-winner Deanne Fitzmaurice. “Rosie” comes from the term “Rosie the Riveter,” a cultural icon of the United States, representing women who worked manufacturing jobs in WWII, replacing men who were in the military.
The photos tell positive stories of women's aspirations and strength. They are set in the transportation and industrial contexts, with images of buses or railcars, factory assembly lines, train tracks, and transit stations or depots.
JMA coalition first created this project in 2015 with funding from several groups. The goal is to encourage manufacturers of buses and trains to increase opportunities for women and other workers historically excluded from this industry.
“This project seeks to bring awareness to those women who work hard every day to ensure we are building U.S. buses and trains for future generations,” said executive director of JMA Madeline Janis. She continued, “We are thrilled to be working with Caltech."
“Connecting the Caltech community with a conversation about modern Rosie the Riveter and the broader implications of women’s equity around the world is an excellent way to kick off Women’s History Month, a celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” said assistant director of the Center for Diversity Erin-Kate Escobar
The exhibit is set to run from Tuesday March 8, 2016 to Friday April 1, 2016. The sponsors of this event include the Caltech Center for Diversity and Caltech’s International Student Programs.
