By Alejandra Garcia / Radio Havana Cuba
Cuba is currently going through one of its most severe crises, marked by daily and prolonged blackouts that affect every aspect of daily life. This situation, worsened by the U.S. energy and economic blockade and ongoing pressure that limits access to fuel and spare parts for the national electrical system, has turned the work of energy sector professionals into a constant emergency response effort.
In this context, a figure emerges, someone who breaks established norms: Aliuska Lores Ramírez, the first female linewoman in the country.
This May 1st, International Workers’ Day, the tribute is not only to those who keep the island’s lights on amid countless material shortages, but also to those who, like Aliuska, have had to climb both poles and prejudices with equal determination. Her entry into this profession not only marks a milestone in the sector, but also represents a new form of resistance in the face of the difficult energy and economic context the country is experiencing. She is one among millions of anonymous heroes who today march as one block through the streets of the country on this May Day.
For Aliuska, her interest in electricity did not come from formal education, but from observation and admiration, she told Vanguardia journal in the province of Villa Clara.
“Before working at the Electric Company, I saw linemen as heroes. I was moved by how they solved problems, and I wanted to be like those anonymous heroes who inspire you when they arrive at your home at any hour to fix a problem.”
However, wearing the blue uniform was not an easy process. As a woman, Aliuska had to wait several years before being formally allowed to enter the profession. Being a pioneer in Santa Clara and across the country, not only meant learning the task, but also confronting a system of values that doubted her physical and technical capacity.
Aliuska clearly identifies her greatest obstacles: “My biggest personal challenge has been dealing with those who didn’t believed in me.” Even within her closest circle, skepticism was present. Her husband, an experienced lineman, was the last to be convinced. “He didn’t believe I was capable either; without his help I had to prove to him that I could. Today he is proud of the linewoman I have become.”
Today, surrounded by the support of her three children and her mother, Aliuska has proven that skill has no gender. In a male-dominated environment, her strategy to earn respect was simple but powerful: professionalism. “When a woman earns respect, she gains the admiration of others.”
The struggle continues, and Aliuska is already looking toward her next challenge: teaching. She wants to become an instructor so that no other young Cuban woman has to wait years to prove they can be useful in the electrical sector. To young women who today view traditionally male-dominated employments with uncertainty, Aliuska speaks with the certainty that it is hard work, but rewarding.
“I would tell them it is difficult, that nothing is given to you… but above all, they must know that it is very important to love this profession. If you love it, do not let anyone extinguish your hope,” she told the newspaper.
On this Labor Day, the story of Aliuska Lores Ramirez stands as a symbol of contemporary Cuba. A nation that, despite taboos and external obstacles, finds in the will of its women the strength needed to keep standing. She defines herself in a phrase that sums up her journey: “I feel like an empowered woman who has overcome the impossible.”
