Women Frontline Workers During COVID | National Women's Month
by Ashley Rojas, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
by Ashley Rojas, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
March is dedicated to appreciate the wonderful women who have made life on Earth possible. It is time for us to give appreciation to women all around the globe who have never stopped working and have fought hard to create a healthier society.
According to the Described and Captioned Media Program, women have been the key to shaping human history since the birth of civilization, and the concept of Women's History Month came to be on March 8, 1857. On that day, women from New York City factories protested the harsh working conditions they faced. During the sixties, women were facing the socio-political climate and it caused women to question their invisibility in traditional American history textbooks, public school curriculum, jobs, and their role in society. These issues have progressed for the better in recent times.
According to the Described and Captioned Media Program, women have been the key to shaping human history since the birth of civilization, and the concept of Women's History Month came to be on March 8, 1857. On that day, women from New York City factories protested the harsh working conditions they faced. During the sixties, women were facing the socio-political climate and it caused women to question their invisibility in traditional American history textbooks, public school curriculum, jobs, and their role in society. These issues have progressed for the better in recent times.
In March of 2020, a global pandemic caused hysteria all over the world. Many lost their jobs, their homes, their families, and their social life. Have you ever stopped to think about those people who had to continue working despite this deadly virus? Have you thought about the people who risked their lives everyday to help the world? It was time for my yearly check-up during spring break, and I took the time to interview a frontline worker who I actually met with during quarantine.
I interviewed my Pediatrician, Dr. Galaragga-Ramirez, a friendly face I’ve known since the age of 5. She never stopped working during the pandemic and she put her life at risk to help the people around her. Here is my interview:
I interviewed my Pediatrician, Dr. Galaragga-Ramirez, a friendly face I’ve known since the age of 5. She never stopped working during the pandemic and she put her life at risk to help the people around her. Here is my interview:
Ashley: Please state your full name.
Galaragga-Ramirez: My name is Yolanda A. Galarraga Ramirez.
Ashley: Were you working face-to-face with Covid patients on an everyday basis? If not, do you know people who did?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I wasn’t working face-to-face with COVID patients, as far as I’m concerned. We had multiple safety procedures for the patients that came in for their appointments.
Ashley: Were you constantly afraid of the severity of the illness?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I was terrified of the possibility of getting sick. It’s horrible, the idea of catching COVID and spreading the illness to my friends and family was traumatizing. I had anxiety attacks going in and out of the office.
Ashley: What were your shifts like? How many days a week were you working? Or was it different for Covid? What were the issues you faced mentally?Galaragga-Ramirez: I was working from 9am to 4pm everyday except Saturday and Sunday. It didn’t change for COVID. We had less patients a day but that was all. I went through a dark spiral of anxiety and paranoia because of COVID.
Ashley: Was this a choice you made or were you essentially “forced” to continue working?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I had to keep working. I had people who relied on me and I couldn’t let them down.
Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to every area of life. Women have influenced our culture and the progression of literature, photography, music, math, science, research, and so much more. The originality, beauty, endurance, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women's lives have shaped our collective history, and all of this must be written back into it.
Galaragga-Ramirez: My name is Yolanda A. Galarraga Ramirez.
Ashley: Were you working face-to-face with Covid patients on an everyday basis? If not, do you know people who did?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I wasn’t working face-to-face with COVID patients, as far as I’m concerned. We had multiple safety procedures for the patients that came in for their appointments.
Ashley: Were you constantly afraid of the severity of the illness?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I was terrified of the possibility of getting sick. It’s horrible, the idea of catching COVID and spreading the illness to my friends and family was traumatizing. I had anxiety attacks going in and out of the office.
Ashley: What were your shifts like? How many days a week were you working? Or was it different for Covid? What were the issues you faced mentally?Galaragga-Ramirez: I was working from 9am to 4pm everyday except Saturday and Sunday. It didn’t change for COVID. We had less patients a day but that was all. I went through a dark spiral of anxiety and paranoia because of COVID.
Ashley: Was this a choice you made or were you essentially “forced” to continue working?
Galaragga-Ramirez: I had to keep working. I had people who relied on me and I couldn’t let them down.
Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to every area of life. Women have influenced our culture and the progression of literature, photography, music, math, science, research, and so much more. The originality, beauty, endurance, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women's lives have shaped our collective history, and all of this must be written back into it.