Translator: Emma Dovlatyan Reviewer: Kristine Sargsyan
What will you become when you grow up?
You were also asked this question, weren't you?
We all had our versions of the answer: our childish dreams and wishes.
One wanted to be a doctor, another – a policeman, the other – a singer.
However, the adults didn't like my answer so much: underground train driver.
Every time, after proudly answering to that question,
I expected positive reinforcement but immediately got dissapointed
when instead of positive reactions I met strange facial expressions
which weren't encouraging at all.
I used to be told
''There baby see, you are a girl and you should choose something girlish".
Or "How can this girl be a driver, moreover a underground train driver?''
So my simple wish simply remained a dream.
Today, I understand that in our society a woman can have a machine
but only a washing machine.
(Applause)
So, what is the use of cars if an Armenian woman
should stay at home and work in the kitchen.
There are many researches on this topic.
I also decided to make a survey within my coursemates and fellow villagers.
And as a result I learnt that most women would have chosen
a completely different profession
if there wasn't a pressure from the society.
Since childhood, I have been interested in this question
''Why do we differenciate among professions?''.
Who and when decided that one profession is for girls and the other is for boys.
The problem comes from childhood, when the kids are taught
that, for example, girls should play with dolls or with so called girlish toys.
Boys should play with cars and armor.
Or, boys should make friends only with boys and girls should only have
a few friends among girls.
Recently, I was walking in the park
when I met a group of boys who were playing football.
Not far from them, there was a girl who was standing sadly.
As usually, I approached to ask why she was alone and learnt
that the girl liked football very much and wanted to join her friends.
But they refused her, explaining that she was a girl,
she doesn't have anything to do with football
and they will not play with her.
After long talks with boys, I could manage to involve her in the game.
And you know, she played best of all.
Our stubborn boys not only continued playing with love,
but also promised to invite the girl to all their football matches.
Let me bring another example.
I have recently read that parents tend to warn their daughters
to be careful four times more that they warn their sons.
And usually they are more worried when their daughters
play in the yard and they get more warnings about possible dangers.
Then, when the children grow up,
the girls hold the position that they need more protection
whereas the boys are more autonomous.
It turns out that boys are born to be leaders, or girls to be teachers,
and we educate them like this.
In case of teachers, some people think that teacher is woman's job.
The other part thinks that men teachers are few, because the salary is low.
But according to ''New York Times'', the three/fourth of teachers
in US are also women, though it's a well paid job there.
Many times I have heard that a woman can not be a leader.
But the researches of ''Harvard Business Review''
that the customers are more satisfied with women leaders
and usually the latters are in better terms with their employees.
I think, you all will agree, that a great number of man teachers
or women leaders don't indanger us in any way.
On the contrary, a better atmosphere is created in schools and workplaces.
Just remembered one more thing.
Before almost every one thought
that a woman can not drive a car or men can't style a woman's hair.
But today we have almost the opposite image.
Women prefer to have men as their hairstylists
and men are accused in aggresive traffic three times more than women
and they become reasons for accidents for 25 percent more than women do.
What do you think?
Is it possible that one day I would become one of the few
underground female drivers in the world and one day you would see me and smile.
(Applause)