I was the first female they hired in my department in Israel I was a fresh-faced
department in Israel I was a fresh-faced
department in Israel I was a fresh-faced 21 year old with no idea what I was
21 year old with no idea what I was
21 year old with no idea what I was getting myself into
getting myself into
getting myself into I got a job as an operator on oil and
I got a job as an operator on oil and
I got a job as an operator on oil and gas rigs I was sitting across the table
gas rigs I was sitting across the table
gas rigs I was sitting across the table from my boss and he said to me Yasmine
from my boss and he said to me Yasmine
from my boss and he said to me Yasmine is there any specialist equipment you
is there any specialist equipment you
is there any specialist equipment you need cuz you’re a woman and I was like
need cuz you’re a woman and I was like
need cuz you’re a woman and I was like oh my god this is the question I’ve been
oh my god this is the question I’ve been
oh my god this is the question I’ve been waiting for my entire life
yes I need pants with more space for my
yes I need pants with more space for my booty you have no idea how hard it is to
booty you have no idea how hard it is to
booty you have no idea how hard it is to Fanta men’s pants right the long crotch
Fanta men’s pants right the long crotch
Fanta men’s pants right the long crotch pancake ass the struggle is real my boss
pancake ass the struggle is real my boss
pancake ass the struggle is real my boss didn’t quite understand the request and
didn’t quite understand the request and
didn’t quite understand the request and so I ended up in men’s pants I adapted I
so I ended up in men’s pants I adapted I
so I ended up in men’s pants I adapted I remember driving out to my first rig and
remember driving out to my first rig and
remember driving out to my first rig and uh my colleague Oh looked to me with
uh my colleague Oh looked to me with
uh my colleague Oh looked to me with this real look of concern on his face is
this real look of concern on his face is
this real look of concern on his face is like Yasmine I’ve never worked with a
like Yasmine I’ve never worked with a
like Yasmine I’ve never worked with a woman before
woman before
woman before oh here we go he’s like are you going to
oh here we go he’s like are you going to
oh here we go he’s like are you going to be able to lift the tools Oh mate
be able to lift the tools Oh mate
be able to lift the tools Oh mate you’re a Filipino man half my size I can
you’re a Filipino man half my size I can
you’re a Filipino man half my size I can lift you up
I’ll never offered to help me again
I’ll never offered to help me again and here’s the thing it was funny at the
and here’s the thing it was funny at the
and here’s the thing it was funny at the time and on and on these experiences
time and on and on these experiences
time and on and on these experiences continued right most of the time I was
continued right most of the time I was
continued right most of the time I was the first female engineer any of these
the first female engineer any of these
the first female engineer any of these guys had worked with and so they had no
guys had worked with and so they had no
guys had worked with and so they had no idea how to deal with me one guy
idea how to deal with me one guy
idea how to deal with me one guy literally said I’m not sure if you will
literally said I’m not sure if you will
literally said I’m not sure if you will start to cry if I talk to you and I
start to cry if I talk to you and I
start to cry if I talk to you and I thought if every woman in your life is
thought if every woman in your life is
thought if every woman in your life is crying when you talk to her you have
crying when you talk to her you have
crying when you talk to her you have issues but I I didn’t ask them to change
issues but I I didn’t ask them to change
issues but I I didn’t ask them to change I learnt to adapt I became one of the
I learnt to adapt I became one of the
I learnt to adapt I became one of the boys right I started to talk like them
boys right I started to talk like them
boys right I started to talk like them I’d walk I you know put a bit of swagger
I’d walk I you know put a bit of swagger
I’d walk I you know put a bit of swagger I did my absolute best to be a
I did my absolute best to be a
I did my absolute best to be a middle-aged white dude all right because
middle-aged white dude all right because
middle-aged white dude all right because that’s that’s all the cues around me
that’s that’s all the cues around me
that’s that’s all the cues around me told me that that’s how you needed to be
told me that that’s how you needed to be
told me that that’s how you needed to be in order to succeed right that’s what I
in order to succeed right that’s what I
in order to succeed right that’s what I thought I needed to do but here’s the
thought I needed to do but here’s the
thought I needed to do but here’s the thing it worked for me almost because it
thing it worked for me almost because it
thing it worked for me almost because it turns out that I wasn’t a middle-aged
turns out that I wasn’t a middle-aged
turns out that I wasn’t a middle-aged white dude no matter how hard I tried I
white dude no matter how hard I tried I
white dude no matter how hard I tried I just ended up being a pretty dodgy fake
just ended up being a pretty dodgy fake
just ended up being a pretty dodgy fake version of one and everyone around me
version of one and everyone around me
version of one and everyone around me noticed and then it manifested in really
noticed and then it manifested in really
noticed and then it manifested in really strange ways these kind of gendered
strange ways these kind of gendered
strange ways these kind of gendered comments that would be passed off as
comments that would be passed off as
comments that would be passed off as jokes the fact that no one would take
jokes the fact that no one would take
jokes the fact that no one would take any of my technical contribution
any of my technical contribution
any of my technical contribution seriously unless a male colleague
seriously unless a male colleague
seriously unless a male colleague repeated it or the fact that I would
repeated it or the fact that I would
repeated it or the fact that I would walk onto the rig and be deemed
walk onto the rig and be deemed
walk onto the rig and be deemed incompetent unless proven otherwise
incompetent unless proven otherwise
incompetent unless proven otherwise women in male-dominated industries have
women in male-dominated industries have
women in male-dominated industries have usually two main ways of coping right
usually two main ways of coping right
usually two main ways of coping right either internal or external internal
either internal or external internal
either internal or external internal meaning they either justify the behavior
meaning they either justify the behavior
meaning they either justify the behavior or they try to fit in they change
or they try to fit in they change
or they try to fit in they change themselves to try to fit in external is
themselves to try to fit in external is
themselves to try to fit in external is called impression management you be so
called impression management you be so
called impression management you be so good so professional that they have
good so professional that they have
good so professional that they have enough
enough
enough they cannot do anything but take you
they cannot do anything but take you
they cannot do anything but take you seriously
seriously
seriously both of these are survival methods they
both of these are survival methods they
both of these are survival methods they don’t change the system I tried both
don’t change the system I tried both
don’t change the system I tried both right not only did I make excuses for
right not only did I make excuses for
right not only did I make excuses for the behavior and I tried my best to fit
the behavior and I tried my best to fit
the behavior and I tried my best to fit in but I thought if I just was worked so
in but I thought if I just was worked so
in but I thought if I just was worked so hard did so well maybe just maybe I
hard did so well maybe just maybe I
hard did so well maybe just maybe I would get away with it because that’s
would get away with it because that’s
would get away with it because that’s what we’re told as women as migrants as
what we’re told as women as migrants as
what we’re told as women as migrants as people of color as Muslims as anyone who
people of color as Muslims as anyone who
people of color as Muslims as anyone who does not fit the norm work hard
does not fit the norm work hard
does not fit the norm work hard fit in don’t make a fuss that’s the path
fit in don’t make a fuss that’s the path
fit in don’t make a fuss that’s the path to acceptance that’s the path to
to acceptance that’s the path to
to acceptance that’s the path to equality oh and don’t forget to be
equality oh and don’t forget to be
equality oh and don’t forget to be grateful for it unfortunately that’s not
grateful for it unfortunately that’s not
grateful for it unfortunately that’s not really how reality works because thatx
really how reality works because thatx
really how reality works because thatx that acceptance that equality is
that acceptance that equality is
that acceptance that equality is completely conditional make one mistake
completely conditional make one mistake
completely conditional make one mistake step even one toe out of line and all of
step even one toe out of line and all of
step even one toe out of line and all of that acceptance all of that equality
that acceptance all of that equality
that acceptance all of that equality will be taken away in an instant how do
will be taken away in an instant how do
will be taken away in an instant how do I know well I got a little too
I know well I got a little too
I know well I got a little too comfortable you see like I did well
comfortable you see like I did well
comfortable you see like I did well academically I served my community I
academically I served my community I
academically I served my community I played the part I started a youth
played the part I started a youth
played the part I started a youth organization when I was 16 years old at
organization when I was 16 years old at
organization when I was 16 years old at in mechanical engineering and graduated
in mechanical engineering and graduated
in mechanical engineering and graduated valedictorian with first-class honors I
valedictorian with first-class honors I
valedictorian with first-class honors I traveled around the world representing
traveled around the world representing
traveled around the world representing my country I was on federal advisory
my country I was on federal advisory
my country I was on federal advisory boards I hosted a television show I won
boards I hosted a television show I won
boards I hosted a television show I won awards I was the young Australian of the
awards I was the young Australian of the
awards I was the young Australian of the Year for my state I published a book
Year for my state I published a book
Year for my state I published a book before I turned 25 I thought I was equal
before I turned 25 I thought I was equal
before I turned 25 I thought I was equal huh that was my mistake it all kind of
huh that was my mistake it all kind of
huh that was my mistake it all kind of started to unravel when I decided to
started to unravel when I decided to
started to unravel when I decided to have a disagreement with a federal
have a disagreement with a federal
have a disagreement with a federal politician
so do you know what should outlaw is yes
so do you know what should outlaw is yes but it does like do you know maybe three
but it does like do you know maybe three
but it does like do you know maybe three in five Sharia law Oh
in five Sharia law Oh
in five Sharia law Oh five times a day is shittier I got a
five times a day is shittier I got a
five times a day is shittier I got a Greek okay not I’m not going to attack
Greek okay not I’m not going to attack
Greek okay not I’m not going to attack you personally what no my frustration is
you personally what no my frustration is
you personally what no my frustration is that people talk about Islam without
that people talk about Islam without
that people talk about Islam without knowing anything about it and they’re
knowing anything about it and they’re
knowing anything about it and they’re willing to completely negate any of my
willing to completely negate any of my
willing to completely negate any of my rights as a human being as a woman as a
rights as a human being as a woman as a
rights as a human being as a woman as a person with an agency simply because
person with an agency simply because
person with an agency simply because they have an idea about what my faith is
they have an idea about what my faith is
they have an idea about what my faith is about
things really came to a head though when
things really came to a head though when I decided to write a Facebook post of
I decided to write a Facebook post of
I decided to write a Facebook post of seven words on Anzac Day which is
seven words on Anzac Day which is
seven words on Anzac Day which is Australia’s version of Memorial Day
Australia’s version of Memorial Day
Australia’s version of Memorial Day asking for a little bit of empathy for
asking for a little bit of empathy for
asking for a little bit of empathy for other victims of war and even though in
other victims of war and even though in
other victims of war and even though in less than an hour I pulled it down and
less than an hour I pulled it down and
less than an hour I pulled it down and apologized I was on the front page of
apologized I was on the front page of
apologized I was on the front page of national papers day in day out the Prime
national papers day in day out the Prime
national papers day in day out the Prime Minister commented parliamentarians said
Minister commented parliamentarians said
Minister commented parliamentarians said that I should be deported that I should
that I should be deported that I should
that I should be deported that I should self-deport that I was under stress a
self-deport that I was under stress a
self-deport that I was under stress a disgrace I got death threats I had radio
disgrace I got death threats I had radio
disgrace I got death threats I had radio commentators saying that they would like
commentators saying that they would like
commentators saying that they would like to run me over
to run me over
to run me over racist posters were put up around cities
racist posters were put up around cities
racist posters were put up around cities I lost work I had to move house and when
I lost work I had to move house and when
I lost work I had to move house and when I eventually decided that I would leave
I eventually decided that I would leave
I eventually decided that I would leave the country a national TV station ran a
the country a national TV station ran a
the country a national TV station ran a poll asking whether I should leave or
poll asking whether I should leave or
poll asking whether I should leave or stay to face my critics and tens of
stay to face my critics and tens of
stay to face my critics and tens of thousands of people responded
thousands of people responded
thousands of people responded here’s the thing outrage happens all the
here’s the thing outrage happens all the
here’s the thing outrage happens all the time but this was no ordinary outrage
time but this was no ordinary outrage
time but this was no ordinary outrage this didn’t go for a day or a week or
this didn’t go for a day or a week or
this didn’t go for a day or a week or even a month and this wasn’t just social
even a month and this wasn’t just social
even a month and this wasn’t just social media or mainstream media or the
media or mainstream media or the
media or mainstream media or the government or the public this was over a
government or the public this was over a
government or the public this was over a hundred and thirty thousand words in
hundred and thirty thousand words in
hundred and thirty thousand words in hundreds of articles and it went for
hundreds of articles and it went for
hundreds of articles and it went for four months almost daily this was no
four months almost daily this was no
four months almost daily this was no ordinary outrage this was putting me in
ordinary outrage this was putting me in
ordinary outrage this was putting me in my place this was me being made an
my place this was me being made an
my place this was me being made an example of don’t you dare step outta
example of don’t you dare step outta
example of don’t you dare step outta line a decade’s worth of community work
line a decade’s worth of community work
line a decade’s worth of community work well you’re just a Muslim so what did I
well you’re just a Muslim so what did I
well you’re just a Muslim so what did I learn that no amount of hard work is
learn that no amount of hard work is
learn that no amount of hard work is protection because when a system is not
protection because when a system is not
protection because when a system is not designed to protect you any acceptance
designed to protect you any acceptance
designed to protect you any acceptance is conditional I was sold a fallacy that
is conditional I was sold a fallacy that
is conditional I was sold a fallacy that as a woman in a male-dominated industry
as a woman in a male-dominated industry
as a woman in a male-dominated industry if I worked hard enough if I acted like
if I worked hard enough if I acted like
if I worked hard enough if I acted like one of the boys eventually I would
one of the boys eventually I would
one of the boys eventually I would outperform
outperform
outperform my identity and eventually I would be
my identity and eventually I would be
my identity and eventually I would be equal I was sold a fallacy that an
equal I was sold a fallacy that an
equal I was sold a fallacy that an Australian Muslim woman like myself if I
Australian Muslim woman like myself if I
Australian Muslim woman like myself if I worked hard enough if I loved Australia
worked hard enough if I loved Australia
worked hard enough if I loved Australia enough if I was grateful enough
enough if I was grateful enough
enough if I was grateful enough eventually I would be given equality
eventually I would be given equality
eventually I would be given equality eventually I would outperform my
eventually I would outperform my
eventually I would outperform my identity I should not need to outperform
identity I should not need to outperform
identity I should not need to outperform my identity and neither should you our
my identity and neither should you our
my identity and neither should you our identities are not the problem all right
identities are not the problem all right
identities are not the problem all right the problem is the systems that are
the problem is the systems that are
the problem is the systems that are discriminatory the problem is systems
discriminatory the problem is systems
discriminatory the problem is systems that do not treat us as equal so what
that do not treat us as equal so what
that do not treat us as equal so what that means is structural change but
that means is structural change but
that means is structural change but structural change is a big thing so what
structural change is a big thing so what
structural change is a big thing so what do we do I’m gonna give you a couple of
do we do I’m gonna give you a couple of
do we do I’m gonna give you a couple of building blocks the first is that if we
building blocks the first is that if we
building blocks the first is that if we agree and acknowledge that we are all
agree and acknowledge that we are all
agree and acknowledge that we are all part of systems then we must learn and
part of systems then we must learn and
part of systems then we must learn and understand these systems in order to be
understand these systems in order to be
understand these systems in order to be able to dismantle it right we as we are
able to dismantle it right we as we are
able to dismantle it right we as we are not individuals operating in a vacuum if
not individuals operating in a vacuum if
not individuals operating in a vacuum if there’s one thing you do after tonight
there’s one thing you do after tonight
there’s one thing you do after tonight it is go home and learn about how the
it is go home and learn about how the
it is go home and learn about how the patriarchy operates and how it’s often
patriarchy operates and how it’s often
patriarchy operates and how it’s often internalized do the work and find out
internalized do the work and find out
internalized do the work and find out why people of color are still affected
why people of color are still affected
why people of color are still affected by colonization or why our economic
by colonization or why our economic
by colonization or why our economic system actually serves to increase
system actually serves to increase
system actually serves to increase inequality rather than decrease it
inequality rather than decrease it
inequality rather than decrease it understand the systems that we operate
understand the systems that we operate
understand the systems that we operate in commit to doing the work
in commit to doing the work
in commit to doing the work number two is listen to the experiences
number two is listen to the experiences
number two is listen to the experiences of others without denying their
of others without denying their
of others without denying their legitimacy if a person of color tells
legitimacy if a person of color tells
legitimacy if a person of color tells you you know what I had this racist
you you know what I had this racist
you you know what I had this racist experience and your first thought is to
experience and your first thought is to
experience and your first thought is to think hmm they’re probably imagining it
think hmm they’re probably imagining it
think hmm they’re probably imagining it hold up why don’t you believe them you
denying their experience is you exerting
denying their experience is you exerting power and that’s how the system operates
power and that’s how the system operates
power and that’s how the system operates put your ego aside and listen and number
put your ego aside and listen and number
put your ego aside and listen and number three which is the most challenging but
three which is the most challenging but
three which is the most challenging but perhaps the most transformative is to
perhaps the most transformative is to
perhaps the most transformative is to learn to create alternatives
learn to create alternatives
learn to create alternatives offer options outside those unwritten
offer options outside those unwritten
offer options outside those unwritten rules think collectively rather than
rules think collectively rather than
rules think collectively rather than rather than individually next time you
rather than individually next time you
rather than individually next time you want to start a company consider making
want to start a company consider making
want to start a company consider making it a cooperative where everyone gets him
it a cooperative where everyone gets him
it a cooperative where everyone gets him equal share think about how you split
equal share think about how you split
equal share think about how you split your household chores hire a diverse
your household chores hire a diverse
your household chores hire a diverse cohort not a diverse candidate right
cohort not a diverse candidate right
cohort not a diverse candidate right because a brown Muslim woman is not
because a brown Muslim woman is not
because a brown Muslim woman is not diverse she’s just brown
no one should ever need to earn the
no one should ever need to earn the right to be equal and if we want that to
right to be equal and if we want that to
right to be equal and if we want that to be true then all of us need to be a part
be true then all of us need to be a part
be true then all of us need to be a part of making that happen
of making that happen
of making that happen structural change sounds difficult but
structural change sounds difficult but
structural change sounds difficult but structures are made up of people like me
structures are made up of people like me
structures are made up of people like me and you right and I believe that they
and you right and I believe that they
and you right and I believe that they can be undone by people like me and you
no one should need to work for their
no one should need to work for their equality so that’s all of us work to
equality so that’s all of us work to
equality so that’s all of us work to make that true
”
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