As some of you may know, Women’s History Month is celebrated in March! Women’s History Month evolved from California’s “Women’s History Week,” born in 1978, and the month-long holiday was officially realized in 1987. To wrap the month up, we’ve decided to interview two female teachers to get an insight of the female experience. Interviewed was Dr. Bertolero, a World Cultures teacher, and Ms. Cocoa, a Native Spanish teacher.
Q: What’s your experience as a female teacher?
- Dr. Bertolero thinks that she, along with other female teachers, are more empathetic towards the students.
- Ms. Cocoa has a good experience and feels happy and welcomed by both genders
Q: Would you say your experience differs from the male teachers?
- Dr. Bertolero isn’t quite sure how it’d differ.
- Ms. Cocoa feels similarly to Dr. Bertolero.
Q: What is the greatest challenge you’ve faced as a female teacher?
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- Dr. Bertolero believes the greatest challenge she has faced as a female teacher is garnering the respect of the male students.
- Ms. Cocoa maintained a neutral stance.
Q: Why do you think it’s important to celebrate Women’s History Month?
- Dr. Bertolero finds that it can inspire young girls to think about different career fields.
- Ms. Cocoa believes that women work considerably hard in not just their careers, but also at home, and deserve recognition. She believes Women’s History Month spotlights the respect women deserve given all the roles they adopt, from teacher, mother to sister all in one.
Q: Who is your biggest female inspiration?
- Dr. Bertolero said that Sandra Day O’Connor was her biggest female inspiration. O’Conner was the first woman on the Supreme Court. To Dr. Bertolero, she was such a huge inspiration because at first, nobody wanted to hire her because she was a woman. Yet, she persevered, and earned a job in one of the highest levels of law. She set new, revolutionary precedents and helped break societal limitations for women at the time.
- Ms. Cocoa described her biggest inspiration to be her mother. Mothers adopt many responsibilities from childcare, their careers to household chores—while being one of the most influential and important figures in a child’s life. Their role plays an international importance in society.