Book Review: My View from the Blackened Rocks by Cathy Mulroy

Cathy Mulroy was one of the first women to be hired by International Nickel Company of Canada (INCO) since World War II. She was assigned to work in the Copper Refinery. Throughout her career, she suffered humiliation, discrimination and hostility from the all-male workforce causing her to suffer depression and other health issues. But Cathy was and still is a tough bird and she stood up for herself and lasted long enough to retire with a pension.

There were men who helped her and stood by her, but their many others who were hateful, callous and backstabbing cowards who should have been fired by their treatment to Cathy and other women who were trying to make a decent wage to support their family.

This a tremendous story of her fight for equality and respect and should be required reading in all Canadian High school to show not only how far equality has come because of fighters like Cathy but also how much further there is to go until women are treated equally. It does have its light moments and at times, I had to put the book down as I was laughing at something she did or said.

This is a remarkable story from an equally remarkable person. Highly Recommended.