Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
For an Emirati woman who has made a name for herself in the historically male-dominated industries of welding and blacksmithing, what started out as a simple curiosity about iron has grown into a passion and career path.
"I began with a basic curiosity about iron and the potential to turn a solid material into something useful and significant. I initially entered the field out of curiosity, but eventually I found a true passion. For her, iron evolved from a material to a means of expressing her thoughts.
She claimed that her decision was motivated by a sincere interest in the craft rather than a desire to compete with men.
"My goal in entering this field was not to demonstrate my ability to compete with men. I loved it, so I went in. It was a slow discovery of a passion I had no idea existed within me; it was not something I had planned from the start," she remarked.
She recalled feeling both excited and nervous during her first visit to a welding workshop.
"The initial encounter was both thrilling and frightening. You get a strong sense of responsibility when you first hold a tool and realise that every action you take will leave a mark on the metal. However, the fear transformed into confidence as soon as I finished my first piece successfully," she remarked.
She claimed that preconceived notions about who could succeed in the field posed a greater obstacle to her than the physical demands of her line of work.
"The preconceived notion of who is capable of doing it was the biggest challenge, not the tools or the nature of the work. Because the best way to demonstrate your abilities is to let your work speak for you, I overcame that through learning, practice and perseverance," she said.
Those in her immediate vicinity were initially taken aback by her journey, but she eventually gained their admiration and support.
It was unfamiliar at first, which makes sense given how unusual the field is for women in general. However, surprise eventually gave way to pride and support as the experience became a concrete accomplishment, she said.
Her greatest accomplishment, in her opinion, has not been obtaining a degree but rather being able to impart her knowledge to others.
"I believe that being able to teach someone else what I had learned was the true accomplishment, not getting a certificate. I felt at that point that my experience had evolved from a personal accomplishment to knowledge that could be shared with others," she remarked.
Her sense of accountability has been reinforced by her certification as a trainer.
"Learning, practicing and consistently improving my abilities led me to become a certified trainer, and then I received the accreditation that allowed me to instruct others. Being a trainer, in my opinion, is more of a duty than a title because I am now responsible for helping others develop their skills and confidence rather than just learning for myself," she stated.
She also remembered times when people doubted her skills due to the nature of her work.
There were times when the doubt existed even before I began working. I didn't feel the need to answer verbally; instead, I wanted to start and let the outcome do the talking. The question eventually shifts from "Can you do it?" to "How did you do that?" she remarked.
She also remembered times when people doubted her skills due to the nature of her work.
Her goal as a trainer is to inspire the next generation — especially Emirati women— to pursue careers that go beyond conventional norms.
"I start by trying to help trainees realise that errors are a necessary part of learning and not a sign of failure. She stated, "I like to instill the idea that professions are not for men or women; what matters is skill, passion and a willingness to learn."
The pieces she made in the early phases of her journey are among the ones she cherishes the most.
Even though they aren't the most intricate or flawless, the pieces I created when I was first starting out are the ones that I cherish the most. They remind me of the time when I had to start from scratch and show me how far I've come since then," she remarked.
"In the future, she thinks Emirati women will keep becoming more prevalent in professional and skilled occupations that were previously thought to be dominated by men.
Because Emirati women have demonstrated their presence in a wide range of fields, the future has become much more expansive. What matters to me is that women's participation in these fields shouldn't just be an anomaly but rather become the norm, enabling girls to select the career path that best suits them without being constrained by conventional notions of professions," she stated.
Thinking back on her own experience, she stated that her advice for women thinking about pursuing an unconventional career is straightforward.
"I wish I had realised right away that a modest beginning does not equate to a modest conclusion. I would advise every woman to take action now rather than waiting for the path to become familiar. There are times when you are the one who familiarises the path for those who follow you," she remarked.
