Documentary

Full Steam Ahead

‘Full Steam Ahead’ is a documentary film project, a collaborative endeavour between Women in Geothermal (WING), the United Nations University Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (UNU-GEST) and Bless Bless Productions.

Filming started in Ethiopia. The project documents working women’s roles in the geothermal industry in Iceland, Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the USA. The documentary will be completed in late 2022.

Utilizing visual ethnography, the film features different generations of women, from pioneers in breaking the gender barrier in the geothermal workplace to those just starting a geothermal career or education. Documenting the experiences that women have had in different eras of the geothermal industry shows the changes that have taken place within a half-century of geothermal.

Despite various incentive programs and initiatives,  women comprise a relatively small portion of the workforce in the renewable energy sector. For example,  women represent only 22% of the EU renewable energy sector, and 26% of the STEM labour force in the USA.

Common themes arose during filming, including:

  • The difficulty of women attaining an education and qualifications for work in the geothermal sector;
  • The misconception that women are not meant to study STEM subjects;
  • The importance of familial support for women to attain higher education, study STEM subjects, and work in a resource field such as geothermal;
  • The familial pressure for women to choose marriage over career;
  • The pressure on women to balance their time between family and career;
  • The difficulties faced by women with children, especially, such as travel and field work;
  • The challenges women face at work in terms of infrastructure provided for women;
  • The harassment and discrimination that women face in their place of work as well as being overlooked for promotions and opportunities to further their careers.
  • The critical importance of support from their families for women to go for higher studies, take up STEM subjects, and work in field like the geothermal industry.
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