Two Iraqi Women Engineers Are Succeeding in the Oil Industry
2021-03-10
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1Two Iraqi women are working as engineers in Iraq's oil industry to help develop their country's economy.
2Zainab Amjad is a 24-year-old engineer who works on an oil rig for six weeks at a time.
3The rig is where companies drill deep into the ground to look for oil.
4Amjad said she is often asked what she is doing in the oil fields.
5"They tell me the field environment only men can withstand," said Amjad.
6"If I gave up, I'd prove them right."
7Ayat Rawthan is a 24-year-old engineer working in another oil rig in Basra.
8She supervises a team that prepares large drill pipes used to collect information about rock formations.
9Most women who are petroleum engineers in Iraq work in an office.
10Instead, Amjad and Rawthan chose to work in the oil fields.
11These are not usual jobs for women from conservative communities.
12Petrochemical programs in the country's engineering schools are for students with the best grades.
13Both women were in the top 5 percent of their graduating class at Basra University in 2018.
14They are part of a new generation of Iraqi women who are going against tribal traditions.
15"Many times my professors laughed, 'Sure, we'll see you out there,' telling me I wouldn't be able to make it," said Rawthan.
16"But this only pushed me harder."
17Rawthan's parents supported and understood her interests.
18She hopes to help establish a labor rights group for Iraqi female engineers in the future.
19The oil industry is an important source of income for the government in Iraq.
20It supports the country's development after years of conflict.
21Amjad is the daughter of two doctors.
22She knew she had to work for an international oil company because state-owned companies would only permit her to work in an office.
23"In my free time, on my vacations, days off I was booking trainings, signing up for any program I could," said Amjad.
24Amjad first worked for China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation and later for the U.S.-based Schlumberger company as an engineer.
25She passed one difficult test after another.
26Asked if she was sure she could do the job, she said: "Hire me, watch."
27Rawthan, too, knew she would have to work extra hard to succeed.
28 Once, when her team had to perform a difficult task, she stayed awake all night.
29"I didn't sleep for 24 hours, I wanted to understand the whole process, all the tools, from beginning to end," she said.
30Rawthan now works for Schlumberger where she collects information from oil wells.
31She wants to learn drilling and the company is a worldwide leader in the service.
32Not only have Amjad and Rawthan faced inequality within the industry, they also face ongoing protests by local tribes and violence toward oil workers.
33But the two women are willing to take on difficulties, such as state corruption, poor services and high unemployment.
34Amjad said she has little time to even consider these difficulties, for even at night she is often working.
35The "drilling never stops," she said.
36I'm Armen Kassabian.
1Two Iraqi women are working as engineers in Iraq's oil industry to help develop their country's economy. 2Zainab Amjad is a 24-year-old engineer who works on an oil rig for six weeks at a time. The rig is where companies drill deep into the ground to look for oil. 3Amjad said she is often asked what she is doing in the oil fields. 4"They tell me the field environment only men can withstand," said Amjad. "If I gave up, I'd prove them right." 5Ayat Rawthan is a 24-year-old engineer working in another oil rig in Basra. She supervises a team that prepares large drill pipes used to collect information about rock formations. 6Most women who are petroleum engineers in Iraq work in an office. Instead, Amjad and Rawthan chose to work in the oil fields. These are not usual jobs for women from conservative communities. 7Petrochemical programs in the country's engineering schools are for students with the best grades. Both women were in the top 5 percent of their graduating class at Basra University in 2018. They are part of a new generation of Iraqi women who are going against tribal traditions. 8"Many times my professors laughed, 'Sure, we'll see you out there,' telling me I wouldn't be able to make it," said Rawthan. "But this only pushed me harder." 9Rawthan's parents supported and understood her interests. She hopes to help establish a labor rights group for Iraqi female engineers in the future. 10The oil industry is an important source of income for the government in Iraq. It supports the country's development after years of conflict. 11Amjad is the daughter of two doctors. She knew she had to work for an international oil company because state-owned companies would only permit her to work in an office. 12"In my free time, on my vacations, days off I was booking trainings, signing up for any program I could," said Amjad. 13Amjad first worked for China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation and later for the U.S.-based Schlumberger company as an engineer. She passed one difficult test after another. Asked if she was sure she could do the job, she said: "Hire me, watch." 14Rawthan, too, knew she would have to work extra hard to succeed. Once, when her team had to perform a difficult task, she stayed awake all night. 15"I didn't sleep for 24 hours, I wanted to understand the whole process, all the tools, from beginning to end," she said. 16Rawthan now works for Schlumberger where she collects information from oil wells. She wants to learn drilling and the company is a worldwide leader in the service. 17Not only have Amjad and Rawthan faced inequality within the industry, they also face ongoing protests by local tribes and violence toward oil workers. But the two women are willing to take on difficulties, such as state corruption, poor services and high unemployment. 18Amjad said she has little time to even consider these difficulties, for even at night she is often working. 19The "drilling never stops," she said. 20I'm Armen Kassabian. 21Samya Kullab from the Associated Press reported this story. Armen Kassabian adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 22_______________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24rig - n. equipment or machinery that is used for a particular purpose 25drill - n. a tool used for making holes in hard substances 26withstand - v. to not be harmed or affected by something 27petroleum - n. kind of oil that comes from below the ground and that is the source of gasoline and other products 28graduate -v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college or university 29source -n. a place where something comes from 30book -v. to make plans so that you will be able to use or have something in the future 31hire - v. to give work or a job to someone