International Women’s Day 2017: A look at working women from around the world

Updated On Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

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Shinto priest Tomoe Ichino, 40, poses for a photograph at the Imado Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, February 22, 2017. ‘In general, people think being a Shinto priest is a man's profession. If you're a woman, they think you're a shrine maiden, or a supplementary priestess. People don't know women Shinto priests exist, so they think we can't perform rituals. Once, after I finished performing jiichinsai (ground-breaking ceremony), I was asked, 'So, when is the priest coming?',’Ichino said. ‘When I first began working as a Shinto priest, because I was young and female, some people felt the blessing was different. They thought: 'I would have preferred your grandfather.' At first, I wore my grandfather's light green garment because I thought it's better to look like a man. But after a while I decided to be proud of the fact that I am a female priest and I began wearing a pink robe, like today. I thought I can be more confident if I stop thinking too much (about my gender).’ (Toru Hanai / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Shinto priest Tomoe Ichino, 40, poses for a photograph at the Imado Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, February 22, 2017. ‘In general, people think being a Shinto priest is a man's profession. If you're a woman, they think you're a shrine maiden, or a supplementary priestess. People don't know women Shinto priests exist, so they think we can't perform rituals. Once, after I finished performing jiichinsai (ground-breaking ceremony), I was asked, 'So, when is the priest coming?',’Ichino said. ‘When I first began working as a Shinto priest, because I was young and female, some people felt the blessing was different. They thought: 'I would have preferred your grandfather.' At first, I wore my grandfather's light green garment because I thought it's better to look like a man. But after a while I decided to be proud of the fact that I am a female priest and I began wearing a pink robe, like today. I thought I can be more confident if I stop thinking too much (about my gender).’ (Toru Hanai / REUTERS)

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Lina Maria da Silva, 62, a babysitter, poses for a photograph with the children she takes care of at her home in the Cantagalo slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Pilar Olivares / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Lina Maria da Silva, 62, a babysitter, poses for a photograph with the children she takes care of at her home in the Cantagalo slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Pilar Olivares / REUTERS)

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Ana Maria del Verdun Suarez, 27, a police officer, poses for a photograph in the outskirts of Montevideo City, Uruguay, February 23, 2017. ‘More women should be able to have jobs that traditionally were considered only for men. I believe that discrimination comes sometimes from all of us, it comes from the inside. There are already many professions that were exclusively male and are now performed by women,’ Suarez said. (Andres Stapff / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Ana Maria del Verdun Suarez, 27, a police officer, poses for a photograph in the outskirts of Montevideo City, Uruguay, February 23, 2017. ‘More women should be able to have jobs that traditionally were considered only for men. I believe that discrimination comes sometimes from all of us, it comes from the inside. There are already many professions that were exclusively male and are now performed by women,’ Suarez said. (Andres Stapff / REUTERS)

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Gabriela Santos, 26, a driver of carriages for tourists, poses next to Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Portugal February 23, 2017. ‘In my work it is better to be a woman than a man. Women have more sensitivity with horses. That is why employers prefer to hire women. Also tourists prefer a carriage driven by a woman,’ Santos said. (Rafael Marchante / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Gabriela Santos, 26, a driver of carriages for tourists, poses next to Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Portugal February 23, 2017. ‘In my work it is better to be a woman than a man. Women have more sensitivity with horses. That is why employers prefer to hire women. Also tourists prefer a carriage driven by a woman,’ Santos said. (Rafael Marchante / REUTERS)

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Rocio Larranaga, 53, a surfer and surf instructor, poses for a photograph at Redondo beach in Lima, Peru, February 23, 2017. (Guadalupe Pardo / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Rocio Larranaga, 53, a surfer and surf instructor, poses for a photograph at Redondo beach in Lima, Peru, February 23, 2017. (Guadalupe Pardo / REUTERS)

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Claudia Concha Parraguez, 45, a pole dancing instructor, poses for a photograph in a gym in Santiago, Chile February 23, 2017. ‘Some students with low self-esteem smile more and feel beautiful after training. But because of the poor mentality of their husbands, who do not see this activity as a sport and associate it with something sexual, they stop attending classes,’ Parraguez said. (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Claudia Concha Parraguez, 45, a pole dancing instructor, poses for a photograph in a gym in Santiago, Chile February 23, 2017. ‘Some students with low self-esteem smile more and feel beautiful after training. But because of the poor mentality of their husbands, who do not see this activity as a sport and associate it with something sexual, they stop attending classes,’ Parraguez said. (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

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Merylee, 26, a soldier, poses for a photograph in Nice, France, February 23, 2017. ‘The parity in the army already exists, it is the uniform that takes precedence over gender,’ Merylee said. (Eric Gaillard / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Merylee, 26, a soldier, poses for a photograph in Nice, France, February 23, 2017. ‘The parity in the army already exists, it is the uniform that takes precedence over gender,’ Merylee said. (Eric Gaillard / REUTERS)

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Pilot Maria Uvarovskaya poses for a photograph in the A320 flight simulator at the Aeroflot training centre at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow, Russia, February 20, 2017. ‘Much more can be done by the women themselves to solve such problems (gender inequality),’said Uvarovskaya. (Grigory Dukor / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Pilot Maria Uvarovskaya poses for a photograph in the A320 flight simulator at the Aeroflot training centre at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow, Russia, February 20, 2017. ‘Much more can be done by the women themselves to solve such problems (gender inequality),’said Uvarovskaya. (Grigory Dukor / REUTERS)

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Samah Abdelaty, 38, a writer and chief of the investigations department at Al Watan Newspaper, poses for a photograph at the headquarters of the newspaper in Cairo, Egypt, February 26, 2017. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Samah Abdelaty, 38, a writer and chief of the investigations department at Al Watan Newspaper, poses for a photograph at the headquarters of the newspaper in Cairo, Egypt, February 26, 2017. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh / REUTERS)

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Liz Azoulay, 26, who loads and unloads cargo at Ashdod port, poses for a photograph at the port, in Ashdod, southern Israel, February 22, 2017. ‘In most of my professional life I did not face any inequality. In the port of Ashdod we are equal on the docks. I am the first woman who began working at the Ashdod port as a stevedore.’ (Amir Cohen / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Liz Azoulay, 26, who loads and unloads cargo at Ashdod port, poses for a photograph at the port, in Ashdod, southern Israel, February 22, 2017. ‘In most of my professional life I did not face any inequality. In the port of Ashdod we are equal on the docks. I am the first woman who began working at the Ashdod port as a stevedore.’ (Amir Cohen / REUTERS)

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Ram, 46, poses for a photograph at her stall at the flower market in Bangkok, Thailand, February 26, 2017. ‘In this market men do the hard jobs, they carry heavy things, load trucks,’said Ram. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Ram, 46, poses for a photograph at her stall at the flower market in Bangkok, Thailand, February 26, 2017. ‘In this market men do the hard jobs, they carry heavy things, load trucks,’said Ram. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Julia Argunova, 36, a mountaineering instructor, poses at 3,200 meters (10,499 feet) above sea level in the Tien Shan mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, February 17, 2017. ‘Physical strength benefits male colleagues in some situations on harder routes. But, women are more concentrated and meticulous. In general, women are better at teaching. My main professional task is to teach safe mountaineering.’ (Shamil Zhumatov / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Julia Argunova, 36, a mountaineering instructor, poses at 3,200 meters (10,499 feet) above sea level in the Tien Shan mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, February 17, 2017. ‘Physical strength benefits male colleagues in some situations on harder routes. But, women are more concentrated and meticulous. In general, women are better at teaching. My main professional task is to teach safe mountaineering.’ (Shamil Zhumatov / REUTERS)

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Cristina Alvarez, 29, a butcher, poses for a photograph while standing outside her and her husband's butcher shop, in Mexico City, Mexico February 25, 2017. ‘I've never felt any gender inequality,’ Alvarez said. ‘I believe women can do the same jobs as men and that there should be no discrimination.’ (Jose Luis Gonzalez / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Cristina Alvarez, 29, a butcher, poses for a photograph while standing outside her and her husband's butcher shop, in Mexico City, Mexico February 25, 2017. ‘I've never felt any gender inequality,’ Alvarez said. ‘I believe women can do the same jobs as men and that there should be no discrimination.’ (Jose Luis Gonzalez / REUTERS)

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Serpil Cigdem, 44, an engine driver, poses for a photograph at Yenikapi station in Istanbul, Turkey. (Osman Orsal / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Serpil Cigdem, 44, an engine driver, poses for a photograph at Yenikapi station in Istanbul, Turkey. (Osman Orsal / REUTERS)

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Christine Akoth, 38, a metal painter, poses for a photograph in Kenya's capital Nairobi, February 27, 2017. ‘I have experienced gender bias at my work where sometimes I'm denied contracts because of who I am and maybe my marital status. Some female colleagues have been treated unfairly because of their sex and even exploited.’ (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Christine Akoth, 38, a metal painter, poses for a photograph in Kenya's capital Nairobi, February 27, 2017. ‘I have experienced gender bias at my work where sometimes I'm denied contracts because of who I am and maybe my marital status. Some female colleagues have been treated unfairly because of their sex and even exploited.’ (Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS)

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Ekaterine Kvlividze, 30, a military pilot captain, poses for a photograph in front of a Georgian Air Force UH-1H helicopter in Tbilisi, Georgia, February 22, 2017. Kvlividze joined the Georgian Air Forces in 2007. ‘There were some difficulties at the beginning, I felt some irony, cynicism. I felt they did not appreciate me. But, thank God, during the last 10 years society has changed and nowadays a woman pilot is a normal thing.’ (David Mdzinarishvili / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Ekaterine Kvlividze, 30, a military pilot captain, poses for a photograph in front of a Georgian Air Force UH-1H helicopter in Tbilisi, Georgia, February 22, 2017. Kvlividze joined the Georgian Air Forces in 2007. ‘There were some difficulties at the beginning, I felt some irony, cynicism. I felt they did not appreciate me. But, thank God, during the last 10 years society has changed and nowadays a woman pilot is a normal thing.’ (David Mdzinarishvili / REUTERS)

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Maxine Mallett, 52, a headteacher at Rutherford House School, poses for a photograph at the school's playground in south London, Britain, February 22, 2017. "The most stressful time of my career was when I had children. Women who return to work after having a child are sometimes treated with suspicion, as if they now lack commitment to the school when it is quite the opposite," Mallett said. ‘We need to remove barriers and support all. Having a fulfilling career should not have to be a battle that you have to constantly fight.’ (Stefan Wermuth / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Maxine Mallett, 52, a headteacher at Rutherford House School, poses for a photograph at the school's playground in south London, Britain, February 22, 2017. "The most stressful time of my career was when I had children. Women who return to work after having a child are sometimes treated with suspicion, as if they now lack commitment to the school when it is quite the opposite," Mallett said. ‘We need to remove barriers and support all. Having a fulfilling career should not have to be a battle that you have to constantly fight.’ (Stefan Wermuth / REUTERS)

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Filipina Grace Ocol, 40, a backhoe operator, poses for a photograph in Tubay, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines, February 16, 2017. Ocol, a mother of three, said, ‘There are a few female workers that can drive big trucks and backhoe. If men can do it, why can't women do it? I'm better than the men, they can only drive trucks here but I can drive both.’ (Erik De Castro / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Filipina Grace Ocol, 40, a backhoe operator, poses for a photograph in Tubay, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines, February 16, 2017. Ocol, a mother of three, said, ‘There are a few female workers that can drive big trucks and backhoe. If men can do it, why can't women do it? I'm better than the men, they can only drive trucks here but I can drive both.’ (Erik De Castro / REUTERS)

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Paloma Granero, 38, a skydiving instructor, poses for a photograph inside the wind tunnel at Windobona indoor skydiving in Madrid, Spain, February 24, 2017. ‘Men donÕt have to prove themselves like we do. We are tested every day," Granero said. "The instruction jobs still go mostly to men, whereas the administrative jobs go mostly to women.’ (Susana Vera / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Paloma Granero, 38, a skydiving instructor, poses for a photograph inside the wind tunnel at Windobona indoor skydiving in Madrid, Spain, February 24, 2017. ‘Men donÕt have to prove themselves like we do. We are tested every day," Granero said. "The instruction jobs still go mostly to men, whereas the administrative jobs go mostly to women.’ (Susana Vera / REUTERS)

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Januka Shrestha, 25, a Tuk Tuk driver, poses for a picture in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 26, 2017. ‘There is no difference in a vehicle driven by a woman and man. While driving on the road people sometimes try to dominate a vehicle especially when they see a woman driving it. People have even used foul language toward me. When this happens I keep quiet and work even harder to prove that we are as capable as men.’ (Navesh Chitrakar / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Januka Shrestha, 25, a Tuk Tuk driver, poses for a picture in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 26, 2017. ‘There is no difference in a vehicle driven by a woman and man. While driving on the road people sometimes try to dominate a vehicle especially when they see a woman driving it. People have even used foul language toward me. When this happens I keep quiet and work even harder to prove that we are as capable as men.’ (Navesh Chitrakar / REUTERS)

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Yolaina Chavez Talavera, 31, a firefighter, poses for a photograph in front of a truck at a fire station in Managua, Nicaragua, February 22, 2017. ‘In my early days as a female firefighter, men, my team mates, thought that I would not last long in the organisation due to the hard training. However, in practice I showed them that I am able to take on tasks at the same level as men. I think women must fight to break through in all areas, in the midst of the machismo that still persists in Nicaragua and in Hispanic countries,’ Talavera said. (Oswaldo Rivas / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Yolaina Chavez Talavera, 31, a firefighter, poses for a photograph in front of a truck at a fire station in Managua, Nicaragua, February 22, 2017. ‘In my early days as a female firefighter, men, my team mates, thought that I would not last long in the organisation due to the hard training. However, in practice I showed them that I am able to take on tasks at the same level as men. I think women must fight to break through in all areas, in the midst of the machismo that still persists in Nicaragua and in Hispanic countries,’ Talavera said. (Oswaldo Rivas / REUTERS)

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Aneta Lukasiewicz, 33, a hairdresser, poses for a photograph at a hairdressing studio in Warsaw, Poland, February 23, 2017. ‘From my observation in this job there are more women hairdressers then men in Poland. But I think the number of male hairdressers is growing. From my experience women clients even prefer to have their hair cut by men, sometimes the reason is curiosity, but also it's a fashion.’ (Kacper Pempel / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Aneta Lukasiewicz, 33, a hairdresser, poses for a photograph at a hairdressing studio in Warsaw, Poland, February 23, 2017. ‘From my observation in this job there are more women hairdressers then men in Poland. But I think the number of male hairdressers is growing. From my experience women clients even prefer to have their hair cut by men, sometimes the reason is curiosity, but also it's a fashion.’ (Kacper Pempel / REUTERS)

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Chrifa Nimri, 69, a fisherwoman, arranges a net after returning from fishing at the seaport Sidi Bou Said, in Tunis, Tunisia, February 23, 2017. ‘At the beginning of my fishing career all the world told me that the trade was for men but now all my colleagues respect and call me captain,’ Chrifa said. (Zoubeir Souissi / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 08, 2017 03:49 pm IST

Chrifa Nimri, 69, a fisherwoman, arranges a net after returning from fishing at the seaport Sidi Bou Said, in Tunis, Tunisia, February 23, 2017. ‘At the beginning of my fishing career all the world told me that the trade was for men but now all my colleagues respect and call me captain,’ Chrifa said. (Zoubeir Souissi / REUTERS)

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