Cat Capon: Yes, I certainly have. Unfortunately, too many to list separately here. If you search ‘TV adventurer’ on the internet, you’ll be scrolling for a long time before you find a woman. This means that many kids might grow up asking, “Can only men be adventurers?” They simply haven’t been exposed to seeing many women explore, survive and navigate hostile environments. That’s not to say that there aren’t amazing women out there doing incredible things in the world; however, the media hasn’t supported them equally. I’ve been told things like, “You don’t look like an adventurer,” and, “I’ve had to fire women from expeditions before because they are too distracting.” These aren’t even the worst of the sexist remarks I’ve been subjected to in my career.
I’m still working on overcoming these barriers, as are many other women in this industry. Now that I have a daughter, I’m even more passionate to not give up and to show the younger generation that women can dive with sharks, track grizzly bears and thrive in the most inhospitable places. Whenever I’ve heard the word “No,” I’m just inspired to find another way!
Joan Melendez-Misner: I have faced many challenges in my life, especially as a woman in a very male-dominated space. One example that always sticks out to me was the first time I led a project as the Lead Engineer. It was our first in-person meeting and I immediately noticed I was the only female in a room full of male colleagues. One of those colleagues walked up to me and asked, “Would you mind taking notes during the meeting?” I remember being shocked and angry. Why was the only female in the room asked to take notes?
Women have come a long way, and I know I stand on the shoulders of women trailblazers before me. However, I also recognize we have a long way to go in order to achieve complete equality in the workplace. When I am confronted with a situation like this, it takes me a long time to find my voice. I’ve learned over the years that when these situations arise, you need to have a combination of two things: 1) being empowered to call out the behavior by speaking to the individual in private and 2) having male allies in the workplace. Now, as a Lead Engineer, I make sure to call on everyone and give equal opportunity for suggestions from all members of the team, no matter their gender.
Karla Huerta: I believe social inequality, sexism, racism, and lack of women in authoritative roles are a few of the biggest struggles women face. When experiencing these challenges, women often have two options: we can either be the “game changers” that will face these struggles head-on in an effort to try to solve them or find resources and support groups that will fight with us. We should aim to evolve as a society to tackle these issues. The world needs this kind of unified power, along with empathy, to solve these challenges that are affecting women all around the world.