International Women's Day is an opportunity to reflect on the challenges and triumphs of women in various fields, including forestry. This year, I (Alicia 👋) have decided to share my journey and reality as a woman in the forestry industry, which is still predominantly male-dominated.
Before starting my first season, I was warned: "Alicia, tree planting isn't easy, and it's not a job for a girl." Despite the attempts to dissuade me, I dove in. And after just two days, I wanted to quit. I remember screaming at Lorenzo that I was going back to the car because I hated it. Somehow, the following Monday (probably out of pride), I found myself on the bus heading back to the patch, continuing the adventure for a month until one final straw made me decide to leave. As if I wasn't sure enough that I hated the job, I returned once more a few weeks later to confirm that it wasn't for me.
Then, the next season quickly came. I thought I was done with forestry for good, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, I took on the role of "forestry technician," checking the quality of the planters' work. After just one day, I already regretted it; what had I gotten myself into again?! I was committed for real this time, and I certainly wasn't going to give up. I had imposter syndrome in overdrive (and the truth is, even though I learned to work through it, I still do sometimes). I felt like I didn't belong among all these men who had been planting for several seasons, feeling the need to prove myself, feeling like I lacked the necessary skills; who was I to tell others how to plant when I hadn't succeeded as a planter myself? I remember counting down in my little yellow plot notebook how many days were left until my ordeal was over.
The reality is... You work in all weather conditions; whether it's snowing, raining, or it's 40°C. You get devoured by clouds of black flies (sometimes you even ingest them), hungry deer flies, and just when you think it's over, the wasps arrive. Your body is broken in two from walking so much every day, stepping over furrows and logging debris, carrying boxes from one stash to another. You go to bed at night a little more tan (or burnt, depending on the day) than the night before, worn out and tired from your long day. The next day, you wake up before sunrise and you're ready to do it all over again, and if you're like me, you count down the days until your day off (although when you're on staff, days off are practically non-existent). There's something satisfying about going through days like these. It's true, it's a tough job. It's physically and psychologically challenging... but it is what it is, no matter who you are.
Today, I have 5 seasons under my belt, and like every year, in March (and maybe even before), I wonder if I'm going back to the woods for another season. Every year, I say to myself: "that was the last one"... but like many others, I find myself going back year after year, and we all end up once again at Mr. Léger's shack. Tree planting is a different world. A mix of all sorts of people, gathered in the woods for different reasons and convictions, but with a common goal: putting trees in the ground. We spend a few months together experiencing incredible things, finding roommates, using stacks of boxes as benches during snack time, sharing our lunches, our water supplies, our tools, and even our toilet paper when bad luck strikes, cramming like sardines in the bus or in the trucks (I promise it doesn't smell like roses), and gathering in the cookshack in the evening for lively discussions. We become like a little family... and I'm happy to say that today I've found my place on the team, and I know that I contribute positively to it.
In the end, there will always be someone to say that it's not a job "for girls," who feels entitled to make inappropriate comments and who doesn't take you seriously. To those people, 🖕. No, it's not easy; but certainly not inaccessible to women. Over the past few seasons, I've met some women; inspiring, strong women who work as well as men and who succeed very well in various aspects of the forestry industry. These women continue to break down barriers, defy stereotypes, and find their place in a field still dominated by men, demonstrating that determination and resilience have no gender.
Happy International Women's Day.
Alicia X