Traction’s female ambassadors within SNCF Mixité work hard to encourage women to become train drivers. They explain how crucial role models are in inspiring vocations. We put our questions to them.

Anabelle: We represent women train drivers across France. There are currently 353 of us, compared with about 12,000 men. Working in such a male-dominated environment can present challenges that male drivers might not be aware of. We support women drivers—who often feel very isolated—to help them advance in these careers.

Anne-Lise: They have to deal with what I call “misplaced kindness”. For example, a man might say to a young woman he’s training, “You shouldn’t wear too much make-up,” or, “Don’t wear trousers that are too tight.” Of course, he just wants to protect her because she’s working in an all-male environment, but it’s still a form of paternalism.

Anabelle: These kinds of remarks are typical of the sexism we face as women in the Traction Division.

Anne-Lise: We’re planning to set up a personalized welcome for all trainees to tell them about the SNCF Mixité network, what it does and explain that they can reach out to us if they encounter any issues. We also organize experience-sharing gatherings and personal development workshops—both are a key part of our initiatives. These efforts help female drivers feel less isolated—all too often, they have to fend for themselves both in the driver’s cabin and in their production unit.

Anabelle: We work with correspondents out in French regions and send them SNCF Mixité’s latest news. We also identify regional initiatives and spotlight these a national level. Our aim is to share best practices. For example, Anne-Lise organized gatherings over coffee during Diversity Week at the Traction unit’s head office to raise team awareness of various issues. And, together, we regularly give talks on gender equality to our Traction teams’ management committees.

Anne-Lise: Yes, every year we organize “Les Potentielles”, our programme to combat gender stereotypes and encourage women to pursue careers in the railway industry. As part of these events, we talk to girls in middle and high school and at university about SNCF’s technical jobs and encourage them to work in these fields.

Astrid: We also started a job-dating event at the former Paris Sud Est Traction unit, which featured a series of pre-recruitment interviews for future male and female train drivers. We set out to encourage women to apply by advertising in Parisian newspapers, and it worked—half of all attendees were women!

Anabelle: People need to give more toy trains to girls!

Anne-Lise: Small initiatives like these can make girls see themselves as train drivers. A lot also needs to be done as far as career advice is concerned. That’s why some female train drivers go into schools to encourage careers advisors to suggest train driving to girls who are unsure about their career path—especially as you no longer need highly technical qualifications to do the job. Nowadays, we look for candidates with a broader skillset.

Anne-Lise: For example, recruiters have realised that someone with a literary background has the skills they need to absorb all the vital information during training sessions. And someone who’s worked in a factory—and is used to repetitive movements—will easily apply processes without ever having touched a dashboard. Basically, it’s no longer about technical knowledge alone. These days we welcome applications from people with less conventional profiles.

Anabelle: Yes, plenty! One that comes to mind is a former waitress who discovered that she could do this job, quite by chance, while chatting to train drivers. So as well as showcasing unusual profiles and inspiring stories, we want to remind people that anyone who has a baccaleuréat school leaver qualification can apply for the job. And you shouldn’t hold back just because you’re a woman.

Anne-Lise: In fact, for a growing number of women, train driver is the first job they apply for. That’s precisely why I always bring female drivers along when I attend job fairs—to encourage more women to apply!

Anne-Lise: Absolutely, and it always works. When young women see the female train driver standing next to me, they bombard her with questions like, “Really? You drive trains?” That’s how we inspire young women to choose careers they’d never thought of for themselves. When I ask girls at job fairs, “Would you like to be a train driver?” they’re always surprised. They attend the job fairs aiming to become sales reps, and I tell them that with their CV, they can drive a train. And that, like all other jobs, train driving is something you can learn to do.

Astrid: If several of them are at the fair—and the men are friendly and not condescending—then they’re considered normal. However, out in the provinces, it’s different because often they’re still very much in the minority.

Anne-Lise: We want to encourage those lone women drivers to talk about their jobs, even when they face challenges. Our goal is to make women want to apply. It’s a virtuous circle: the more female drivers there are, the more mindsets will change.

Anabelle: Today, there still aren’t enough women drivers to create that kind of powerful collective voice. In units with issues, there are too few women for them to feel comfortable speaking up. They discuss the issues amongst themselves, but that’s where it ends.

Anne-Lise: True, but society is evolving, and so is SNCF. Sexist behaviour is less widespread than before. And while there are still isolated incidents, they’re addressed quickly.

Astrid: These days, thanks to the MeToo movement, women tend to speak up sooner if something’s wrong. Plus, SNCF is taking measures, for example, by sanctioning certain behaviours. However, “persistent sexism” is still with us.

Anabelle: I mean the trivial, daily banter. Personally, I don’t laugh at sexist quips any more—even if it means being a kill-joy, the odd one out. If only for the sake of my trainees. Sometimes we work with 18-year old girls, who are suddenly thrust into a very male environment. I don’t want them to hear male-chauvinist comments, even when these are meant to be harmless—because they make the work atmosphere uncomfortable. Our role at SNCF Mixité is to point out what bothers us.

Anabelle: We would like men to account for half our ambassadors, because we can’t talk about gender equality without them. Men make up 95% of the workforce in the Traction unit, so if they don’t join us, we won’t achieve anything! When we invite women drivers to our conferences, we always ask them to bring a male colleague along too. Initially, some people made fun of us for organizing “Tupperware parties”, but these meetings are crucial because they allow women drivers to talk to each other and share their stories. It’s during these gatherings that they speak most openly.

Anne-Lise: That’s our strategy, so that they can talk about their job and help attract more women. Once there are more of us at the Traction unit, we’ll be able to tackle crucial issues, like parenting. But first we have to give more women the train driving bug!