VOA慢速英语--两名伊拉克女工程师在石油行业取得了成功

Two Iraqi women are working as engineers in Iraq's oil industry to help develop their country's economy.

Zainab Amjad is a 24-year-old engineer who works on an oil rig for six weeks at a time. The rig is where companies drill deep into the ground to look for oil.

Amjad said she is often asked what she is doing in the oil fields.

"They tell me the field environment only men can withstand," said Amjad. "If I gave up, I'd prove them right."

Ayat Rawthan is a 24-year-old engineer working in another oil rig in Basra. She supervises a team that prepares large drill pipes used to collect information about rock formations.

Most women who are petroleum¹ engineers in Iraq work in an office. Instead, Amjad and Rawthan chose to work in the oil fields. These are not usual jobs for women from conservative communities.

Petrochemical programs in the country's engineering schools are for students with the best grades. Both women were in the top 5 percent of their graduating class at Basra University in 2018. They are part of a new generation of Iraqi women who are going against tribal² traditions.

"Many times my professors laughed, ‘Sure, we'll see you out there,' telling me I wouldn't be able to make it," said Rawthan. "But this only pushed me harder."

Rawthan's parents supported and understood her interests. She hopes to help establish a labor³ rights group for Iraqi female engineers in the future.

The oil industry is an important source of income for the government in Iraq. It supports the country's development after years of conflict.

Amjad is the daughter of two doctors. She knew she had to work for an international oil company because state-owned companies would only permit her to work in an office.

"In my free time, on my vacations, days off I was booking trainings, signing up for any program I could," said Amjad.

Amjad first worked for China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation and later for the U.S.-based Schlumberger company as an engineer. She passed one difficult test after another. Asked if she was sure she could do the job, she said: "Hire me, watch."

Rawthan, too, knew she would have to work extra hard to succeed. Once, when her team had to perform a difficult task, she stayed awake all night.

"I didn't sleep for 24 hours, I wanted to understand the whole process, all the tools, from beginning to end," she said.

Rawthan now works for Schlumberger where she collects information from oil wells. She wants to learn drilling and the company is a worldwide leader in the service.

Not only have Amjad and Rawthan faced inequality within the industry, they also face ongoing⁴ protests by local tribes and violence toward oil workers. But the two women are willing to take on difficulties, such as state corruption⁵, poor services and high unemployment.

Amjad said she has little time to even consider these difficulties, for even at night she is often working.

The "drilling never stops," she said.

Words in This Story

rig – n. equipment or machinery⁶ that is used for a particular purpose

drill – n. a tool used for making holes in hard substances

withstand – v. to not be harmed or affected⁷ by something

petroleum – n. kind of oil that comes from below the ground and that is the source of gasoline and other products

graduate –v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college or university

source –n. a place where something comes from

book –v. to make plans so that you will be able to use or have something in the future

hire – v. to give work or a job to someone

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。