Role model mother makes impact on daughter
Because of lessons learned from her mother, Amanda Rios wasn’t about to let men disrespect her on the job.
“I was doing hole watch and fire watch over in Beaumont for about six months. I learned what it’s like to work out in the hot sun 10 to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. I don’t think a lot of people realize the hard work that so many men are doing out there. I was one of fewer than 10 women among probably 250 people total in the field.”
What was it like working with so many men?
“There were good men out there I became friends with and could hang out with, without there being any issues. But there also were a lot of out-of-town men who were just really pigs, and were hitting on the women. I learned that you’ve got to stand your ground and immediately let people know you’re not there for that. There were a couple of men who did catch an attitude with me. They snapped at me, and I let them know I’m not going to take that disrespect. After that, a lot of people told me I was the only girl out there who the guys respect. The other girls just kind of let the guys do whatever they wanted.”
Why do you think you were different?
“My upbringing. My mom has a lot to do with the person that I am. She’s a strong woman. I feel like I’ve grown up with a good mentality because of her. She raised three kids as a single mom. She worked two and even three jobs at one point. She made sure we had a house to live in, we always got what we needed, and she supported us in all of our after-school programs. I look back and think, I don’t know how she did it, but she did. She has a lot to do with how I turned out.”
— Amanda Rios, 23
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