By Chantalé Fletcher
PUT some bass in your voice!
This according to Secretary of the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Dr Faith B. Yisrael in her message for International Women’s Day
In a video on Tuesday, she shared her experiences on how to deal with gender biases as a woman.
Dr Yisarel said, “I have trained myself to walk into every room, every situation showing that I am Dr Faith Yisarel, and I am here to do what I’m here to do.”
She added that even if people were biased against her or had thoughts; it would not be allowed.
“I have been pushing back against it, even mentally from preventing myself from putting that type of limitation on myself whenever I enter a space and people recognize that.”
Dr Yisarel admitted that her emotions kept her motivated not to give up and serve as a purpose.
She said if she felt a particular emotion, she would enquire about its cause or situations that would cause the feeling, find resolutions and then move forward.
Tips to break the bias
Dr Yisarel said, “We are all God’s children and we were all created equally.”
She said though there were physical differences, women should not think about themselves as different. “Many of the things men can do, women can do; women do, men can do. And if we start projecting that in our spaces, that will actually remove the biases that many people around us have.”
Dr Yisarel added her colleagues knew what to say or do around her that promoted gender bias, otherwise she would call them out on it.
She said that a woman’s pitch would determine if people would listen. “When you have a high pitched voice, that causes people to tune out.”
Furthermore, “Put a little bass in your voice, slow down what you’re saying, look directly into their eyes and let them know, I am here, I am speaking now and this is what needs to happen.”
