Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.

In today’s society we face stereotypical views on what jobs males and females should have. It may seem that we have less stereotyping these days than we did in the past, yet that just is not the truth. 

During the First and Second World Wars, women were only just being allowed to play a part in the work place, they had specific jobs and roles.

These women were happy to be at work after being denied the right for many years. 

But in this day and age it is still common to see a woman standing in line with a man in the work place, yet not getting the same level of pay for doing the same job. 

Furthermore there are still people who perceive some jobs as being too male for women to do and some jobs which are not the 'work of a man'.

This means it is vital for the government and other bodies to push opportunities from a wide range of occupations in the direction of girls.

Recently year eight girls from Dorchester Middle School visited the ASM assembly systems company in Weymouth. These were girls that had expressed an interest in engineering, one of the occupations that is, and has always been, dominated by the men. 

Throughout the day the girls experienced many different aspects of what engineering entailed and by having this opportunity the girls were able to learn about the occupation they may want to take when they are older. 

I feel it is vital that girls, of every age, are pushed to follow their dreams no matter who they are and how hard it will be to achieve. 

Every person deserves the chance of being the person they want to be, whether they want to become an engineer or builder, dreams and ambitions should always be encouraged. 
 

By Darcy Barrett