Excelling against the odds

陈小将

Editor's note: In industries dominated by men, some women have shown their resilience and made outstanding achievements, breaking stereotypes and inspiring others. Here are the stories of three such remarkable women.

Despite her smaller frame, 39-year-old Tang Chengfeng has devoted 18 years to the grueling craft of industrial welding in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

In this male-dominated industry, the senior technician has mastered advanced welding techniques, becoming a national model worker, a deputy to the National People's Congress, and a National March 8th Red Banner Holder in the process.

"The sparks from the burning welding rod are so beautiful," said Tang, describing her love for her work. "When the rod is melted and becomes a neat welding line, it's like magic."

When she began studying a welding major at a vocational school in the early 2000s, only eight other women were taking the course. After graduation, Tang was the only one who managed to find a job in her chosen career path.

In 2007, she was offered a welding position at Sichuan Chuanguo Boiler, and immediately her mentor, who was also a woman, questioned her as to whether she could undertake such grueling work. Tang's reply was an unwavering "yes".

Every day since she has lived up to that promise, donning her heavy workwear daily and handling welding rods weighing over 10 kilograms. Burns from sparks, heat rashes and swollen, stinging eyes were routine hardships, but none shook her resolve.

During the day she learned from her mentor, and at night she turned to books to hone her craft. At break time, while the men took it easy, she'd often practice her welding with scraps of metal to refine her skills.

A full day's work on the assembly line demands standing for long periods and often squatting requiring lower body endurance. To steady her hands, Tang trained daily by carrying buckets of water weighing 10 kg or more.

"Both male and female workers do the same job. No one is spared from heavy labor," Tang said. "I remember a few years ago when we were working on small header tanks — each one weighed over 50 kg. Back then, we had to move dozens, even hundreds of those every single day."