Tracy Rebello, Gautami Gawas, Nikiat Poremcar
Woman is said to be a beautiful creation of god on earth!! Well it is true but along with this, woman is also said to be the strongest person in terms of her rights as a full human being. Well this is true too. Today women have become powerful not only with her rights but also physically. One such woman in Goa who has broken the male bastion is Candida Cardozo.
Candida works as a security guard at the International Centre, Goa located at Dona Paula. Candida hails from Curca, Tiswadi and is a mother of three sons. Candida is about 50 years old. From her childhood she had a great passion to join the police force. Candida after her SSC gave an interview to join the police force but as she was not selected she did not lose hope. She joined work as a security guard at a well-known five star hotel in Goa. Candida was happy working at this five star hotel for nine years but later as she started having a knee problem, she left the job. As soon as she recovered from her knee problem she got a job at the International Centre, Goa and has completed four months of her work at the International Centre.
Candida further adds that in her journey of life she has always been supported by her parents, husband, inlaws and children. She also says that in her career of 10 years she has never faced any forms of sexual harassment at work. The reason behind this says Candida, is she is known as a woman security guard.
Lastly, she gives a beautiful message not only to women in Goa but to all Goans. She says, “Do not feel shy to do any kind of work. Doing any kind of work is better than sitting idle.” She even encourages other women to take up male dominanted work no matter what society has to say. She hopes and feels sure that as time passes gender discrimination will surely end.
(The writers are students of Centre for Women Studies, Goa University)
