Meet five women who don’t believe in ‘no girls allowed’
It’s a fact: some careers remain dominated by men. But these five real moms are breaking glass ceilings in occupations still considered to be unconventional for women.
1. FOOTBALL COACH. At football games, the overwhelming majority of those on the field and sidelines are men – excluding, of course, the cheer team. However, former investment banker, Susan “Chuck” Myers of Carrollton, Texas, offers proof that a passion for pigskin transcends gender. She began coaching shortly after attending her first Dallas Cowboys game in 1993. Since then, this mom has not only proven that she’s got game, but has also had a book published about how to coach wide receivers, widely read by college football coaches.
2. PROFESSIONAL VIDEO GAME PLAYER. What do you think when you hear “professional gamer”? A bespectacled, pock-faced, antisocial young male? The Frag Dolls are here to reconstruct that image.
Started in 2004, this sassy “girl gamer” club competes at gaming competitions across the continent. Among them is Faith Harrison, aka Phoenix, a blonde bombshell, Halo lover, and mother to a four-year-old son. Playing competitively for the better part of a decade, Phoenix and her team prove gaming is not a boys-only industry.
3. RESEARCH ENGINEER. Despite a recent push for a gender balance in engineering faculties across the continent, the industry is still dominated by men. However, women such as Dr. Stephanie Farrell, professor of Chemical Engineering at Rowan University, are defying the stereotype – while making the world a better place.
After adopting her daughter from China, she soon found out she had difficulty eating and receiving nourishment. As a result, Dr. Farrell set out to lead in the clinical research of tube-feeding. That’s one way to make sure your children eat their vegetables!
4. HUNTER. Once upon a time, men got away from it all by goin’ fishin’. It ain’t only just for the boys anymore. Moms like Wanda Garner of Arkansas are also picking up their rods and getting back to nature in a big way.
Garner not only angles, she also hunts, and is the president of Steppin’ Wolf Productions. She is also the founder and editor of Women Anglers, proving that men aren’t the only ones hooked on fishing.
5. SOLDIER. Countless stories have been written about men going off to war, leaving behind weeping moms waving handkerchiefs. However, it’s important not to forget about the mothers themselves traveling overseas.
Among them is Corporal Tammy Fagan of the Canadian Forces, currently stationed in Afghanistan. By aiding in the war-torn nation’s rebuilding, she and other moms involved are literally putting their lives on the line for a brighter tomorrow.
