On International Women’s Day, the Port Authority of Valencia has organised an exhibition in the Clock Building to highlight the achievements of women who have contributed to the fight for equality in the port world.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibition ‘Working for equality’ free of charge from 8 March.
The PAV is a pioneering institution in the integration of women in a historically masculinised profession, as it is the first port with women in all professional categories.
80% of women dockers in Spain work in Valenciaport.
From 8 March, the Clock Building of the Port of Valencia will host the exhibition ‘Trabajando por la igualidad’ with which the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) is highlighting the role of women in the port sector. Throughout history, the female population has been relegated to occupying jobs related to child-rearing or caring for people, while men have been involved in activities related to transport or finance. However, society has evolved and with it the port community, which works tirelessly to break down barriers and facilitate access to the labour market for all those women who wish to be part of it.
Valenciaport has prepared ‘Trabajando por la igualdad’, an exhibition located in the Clock Building which can be visited from 8 March until 13 March from 11.00 to 18.00 hours. “The PAV, through the Equality Commission, joins the International Working Women’s Day to remember, make visible and recognise the achievements of so many women of yesterday and today who fight for gender equality”, explains Elena Oliver, head of Human Resources and Organisation of Valenciaport. The exhibition showcases these advances in favour of equality, as well as 14 leading women in the port sector who, with their training, professionalism and effort, have led the necessary change.
The exhibition is made up of various sections which explain and analyse the evolution of an institution in which equality prevails and in which gender differences have been eliminated. “We are the first Spanish port to incorporate women in all our departments”, says the head of Human Resources and Organisation of the PAV.
The section ‘Dones en xifres’ shows the rise that has taken place over the last fifteen years. This is due to the fact that since the creation of the PAV’s Equality Commission in 2008, women have come to occupy 30% of management positions and in the Valenciaport Foundation more than 50% are female workers. It should also be noted that 80% of women dockers in Spain work at the Valencia Port Employment Centre.
The tour continues with ‘Com ho fem?’ in which one can see the campaigns, posters, videos and magazines disseminated by the port on social networks to publicise women who are leaders in this profession. Among the actions promoted by the PAV to be a benchmark institution in gender equality are flexible working hours to improve family reconciliation, the adaptation of positions for pregnant women and the creation of a breastfeeding room.
The section ‘Sabies que?’ provides curiosities about the port of Cap i Casal with which all visitors will be surprised and which will not leave anyone indifferent. Also, and through the protagonists, visitors will be able to learn about port professions through the testimonies of stevedores, lorry drivers, financiers, terminal coordinators, port police and service managers. These testimonies are collected in panels and videos of 14 women who work in the Port of Valencia. The Equality Plan is also explained in which the guide to eradicating gender differences is exhibited.
The exhibition ‘Trabajando por la igualdad’ also has a recreational area with comic strips by different authors to highlight the role of the female population in the labour market and to involve visitors to the exhibition.