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C

The quality assurance

is, in fact, a field of
opportunity for women.

Quality Control Guatemala started her professional journey,
she did feel like she had something to prove
As we discussed earlier, moving up to her male counterparts. It was a mix of
coffee career ladder might not seem as some- different things and feelings, a 19-year old,
thing women would do, especially in more inexperienced girl working in the quality
traditional coffee producing countries. In department with 6 male colleagues, was
many countries the social obstacles still exist, unusual for that time. “On one side I had the
e.g. the traditional gender roles and pressure feeling that I had to make an extra effort to
to conform to them, including women them- be heard within the department, but on the
selves being biased due to traditional up- other hand there were people that trusted I
bringing and taught values. Situations like could do the job, even without much experi-
this make it difficult for women to actively ence,” shares Gloria.
participate in the labour force. Even though the quality control would
But thanks to global evolution we have be seen as a more male field, working in the
been experiencing during the last 3-4 de- field for so many years gave Gloria a com-
cades, the coffee industry has evolved and pletely different insight that the quality
diversified itself. In general women are get- assurance is, in fact, a field of opportunity
ting more opportunities to access education for women: “Everything related to quality
and have more activities to choose from, so assurance and sensory analysis has evolved
they can get involved in activities that fit their in the last 20 years and more and more
career aspirations or options that allow a women are involved in this field. Women
better work-family balance. have a natural talent/skill for the sensory
Twenty-two years ago, when Gloria analysis, and this has opened a space for many
Pedroza, professional Cupper and WCE and women to develop a professional career in
SCA certified sensory judge and trainer from the coffee business.”

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