International Women’s Day 2022 sees Sussex #BreaktheBias
Towns across the county celebrated the talented, strong, courageous and inspirational women in our communities
This week Sussex has been celebrating the incredible women in our communities for International Women’s Day.
The theme this year was Break the Bias and, as is always the case, people across the world has been campaigning for a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
This year International Women’s Day took place on Tuesday (March 8) and there were a number of events taking place across our Sussex communities.
Dr Harriet Tucket, a HEMS doctor with Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS), spoke to Sussex Newspapers on International Women’s Day and told us flying across the county saving lives in some of the most difficult environments is most definitely open to women too.
She has been in the role for nearly five years and said she feels ‘lucky’.
Harriet said: “Being trained to have the skills, both clinical and nonclinical (communication, decision making, situational awareness) to help people when they are critically ill or injured is a huge privilege.
“For me, it was the aim of my training to develop my skill set to be in a position to be able to do this, to be able to provide care in the most urgent of clinical situations for patients and their families and loved ones.
“Coming from an inhospital background, more used to working in the relative comfort of an emergency department with light, warmth, no rain, many resources, and where patients have already been rescued from the environment of their accident or illness, I was most apprehensive about learning how to work in this different, ever-changing environment, to deliver this high quality life-saving care whether on a beach, in a field, or on the M25; in the rain, in the baking heat or in the dark.
“It was also an adjustment to see patients in their own environment rather than in our comfort zone, a hospital. It really hits home how our patients did not expect this today and how their lives have been turned upside down. This role reversal also really makes you appreciate how scary and unfamiliar coming into hospital must be for patients, and to go that extra mile to comfort and reassure .”
Harriet said there are fewer women than men in role but says it is slowly changing.
She said: “We have seven female doctors and five female paramedics. There is definitely a shift in the perception that you don’t need to be super strong or masculine to be a HEMS doctor or paramedic, and with more of us in these roles hopefully this will continue to change.
“Services are also increasingly accommodating about maternity leave, lessthan-full-time working and childcare. There is also currently a national survey exploring perceptions and perceived barriers which will further inform and develop strategies to bring more women into our speciality.”
She said KSS would like to see more women in the role.
She added: “Pre-hospital medicine is hugely about communication, team working, emotional intelligence and situational awareness, all of which women (as well as men!) are very good at. You need to be fit enough to do the role, but this doesn’t require you to be able to lift 100kg or run marathons every day.”
Her advice to other women and girls is to explore all your options. She added: “Find out what you need to do, and talk to everyone you can – none of us will mind an out-of-the-blue message on Twitter! We have all been in a similar position, faced similar challenges and worries, and are more than happy to help.”
There are still some male-dominated industries in our communities and construction is a trade that is working to encourage more women to train and take up roles in the sector.
Chichester site manager Nina McQuay, 29, is showing that women are just as good as their male counterparts when it comes to working in construction. Nina works at David Wilson Homes’ Madgwick Park development in Westhampnett and has just started on an assistant site manager trainee programme with the housebuilder. Starting with the developer as carpentry apprentice three years ago, Nina knows only too well the pre-conceived stereotypes evident in the construction industry, often feeling she had to work doubly hard to prove herself.
She said: “As the only woman on site, it has
I’ve often felt I needed to work twiceashard asmymale colleagues to prove my worth NINA MCQUAY Construction site manager
sometimes felt like there’s a pre-judgement as to what I can and can’t do. I’ve often felt I’ve needed to work twice as hard as my male colleagues to show my worth.”
According to Nina however, women can bring something to the construction industry that perhaps men cannot.
She said: “Women are often more approachable when it comes to opening up on a certain issue or problem that arises. And this is extremely important for mental health.”
Mental health is a real issue in the construction industry. In the male dominated sector, the number of workers taking their own life is three times the national average for men. For Nina, who has suffered with depression, having somewhere to go while at work when she needed help, was vital.
She added: “Depression was having a detrimental impact on my day-to-day life when I started work, and it was important that I was able to voice my concerns. For male construction workers, having a female to approach regarding mental health issues, could be a big help. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of ‘bravado’ when it comes to men talking about their feelings with each other, which is a real shame.”
After sharing her own difficulties, Nina was able to voice her concerns and has since thrived. She has been nominated to be a part of a career development programme for high potential women within the business. The scheme, Catalyst, is designed to help promote a career in construction for women through role models on site.
She said: “It took me while to feel comfortable enough to start a career in construction, but it’s been incredible. To be able to inspire other women to do the same is fantastic.”
Anthony Dimmick, David Wilson Homes’ community liaison manager, is delighted to hear Nina’s story, and hopes her success will persuade other women to join the sector.
He said: “While female construction workers have increased steadily over the past few years, the proportion of women in the industry is still significantly lower – something David Wilson Homes is keen to change.
“Nina has flourished in her career with us, and I hope to hear of many other women following in her footsteps.”