Educational Media Reviews Online

Her Own Words ®: Women in Nontraditional Careers is a series of 10 videos designed to provide vocational guidance to women who may be interested in pursuing careers in some traditionally male-dominated fields. The titles in this series are:
· Math at Work: Women in Nontraditional Careers · Women in Construction · Women in Dentistry · Women in Engineering · Women in Firefighting · Women in Machining · Women in Nontraditional Careers: An Introduction · Women in Policing · Women in Welding · Work Talk: Women in Nontraditional Careers

Basically, the videos are slide shows consisting of still color pictures. Upbeat music plays intermittently. The pictures are accompanied by first-person narration by actual women in nontraditional careers. They talk about various topics such as what their jobs entail, the fears they had when beginning their nontraditional careers and how they overcame them, the skills they learned, the challenges their jobs present, how their jobs effect their personal lives, and why they are happy in their chosen line of work.

The videos would probably be more interesting to watch if the women were actually filmed while at work and not just captured in still pictures, but they are all informative.

The Math at Work: Women in Nontraditional Careers video is especially noteworthy because it actually answers the popular student question, "When will I ever use algebra, geometry or trigonometry?" The examples of how some women have to use math on the job are fascinating.

Each video is sold separately for $95.00, which includes public performance rights. A 114-page resource guide for each video is sold separately for $45.00 each (resource guides not seen by reviewer).

Recommended for grades six and above, vocational schools, colleges and career centers.