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lnterview of a woman
who has joined FCC
Q. Could you tell us what it has been like
to join the company?
A. From the start, I felt that I was treated
normally, just like the rest of the workers. I
noticed that my superiors were somewhat
careful and sensitive. This made me feel
very comfortable and also the fact that they
demanded as much of me as from any other
worker, made me feel proud to be able to
have a job. Even though I must defend my
day-to-day performance with my efforts, I
consider it essential that I was given this
first opportunity to show my capabilities. I
don’t think that it would have been possible
without the Company’s collaboration with
the Red Cross.
Q. What have been the positive aspects
for you of finding a job?
A. It has raised my self-esteem; I feel more
secure and also, I am now financially inde-
pendent. The fact that I have to dress up
each morning to go to work, take more
care of myself, and make an effort to look
good have been very important and has
helped me feel better. Also, when I’m at
work, I forget my personal problems and
focus on what I have to do.
Getting to know my colleagues and deepe-
ning these personal relationships has been,
besides finding support, a learning expe-
rience since I have been able to understand
that everybody has their own problems,
everybody has to struggle to a greater or
lesser degree to get ahead. It has enabled
me to remove the label of “victim” and to be
able to have a better relative perspective on
my own problems.
Q. What can companies do to support
women who have been victims of gender
violence?
A. They should try to treat us normally,
just like other workers, but also with grea-
ter awareness on the part of the company
since not all women recover in the same
way or as fast. When we continue to have
anxiety problems or are under psychologi-
cal treatment, it is also important that the
company does not put any impediments so
that we can follow the treatment (medical
appointments, etc.).
On the other hand, one of the greatest diffi-
culties that woman who have gone through
this is the issue of non-shared family res-
ponsibilities. This is another impediment
when looking for or finding work since we
cannot assume any work schedule. In a
work environment when more flexibility is
required of workers, it is a real barrier to find
and to maintain a job which is also essential
for us so that we can pay for our expenses
and those of our minors and also to bolster
our self-esteem which is also very affected.
Q. What would you tell other women who
are now suffering from gender violence?
A. Firstly, to open their eyes, to understand
what is going on, to recognise that they are
playing that role. I would then recommend
that they talk about what is happening to
them, to be careful but never afraid. And,
lastly, I would tell them that the key is not
looking back and just go ahead. I would tell
them than violence is not just being hit; it is
also contempt and other forms of abuse.
We must live our own lives, not the one that
they want to force us to live.
I would also impress on them that perhaps
it is cloudy today, but that for sure the sun
will rise tomorrow.
almost eleven, more than eight hours a day.
She had spent more time on her side than
with most of her loved ones in recent years;
she had gone to her wedding seven years
back, had held her children, had never felt
a bit of envy for what had been always de-
nied to her, she had celebrated when she
had bought the apartment in the outskirts
of the city,...
It had also been eleven years of difficulties,
not just the long working days when it was
necessary to finish a project with a deadline,
or solve an emergency. She had also been
at her side when she herself had gotten a
divorce four years ago, nothing traumatic,
just a conversation to wrap things up and
a few papers to put in order in a civilised
manner and legalise the new situation.
That’s why, when a couple of years before
she had come to tell her that her marriage
was hell, she hardly lifted her eyes from the
screen. She was working on one of those
urgent matters. She merely said, “well, you
know, look at my example; I have been li-
ving in heaven for the past two years. Well,
you will be better since you have two kids to
keep you company, and you’ll be too busy
to think of anything at all.
She never mentioned anything again; she
was like that, always preferred not to bother
anybody. Sometimes when she made a
mistake, she always apologised saying “it’s
just that I’m dumb, just like Luis said, and
he was right. She preferred not to answer,
didn’t have the time with all the work she
had.
Even though some days she did notice that
her friend was absent, she didn’t want to
seem pushy asking her, she understood
that it was probably to take care of the kids,
go to the lawyers office because her sepa-
o r p o r a t e