On International Women's Day, a new exhibit celebrates women who help to move New Yorkers. NY1's Jose Martinez filed the following report.
From painting the city's bridges to fixing its subway cars, there's nothing these women say they can't do for New York's transportation network.
"No matter how tough, no matter how high it is, the woman can do anything," said Elisangela Oliveira, bridge painter with the city's Department of Transportation.
Oliveira should know. She's been a bridge painter for nearly 20 years. She's one of the women featured in a new exhibit highlighting women who work in the male-dominated transportation field.
"In the beginning, the union used to send me for job, and they'd be like 'What are you doing here?' They was waiting for men, not for women," Oliveira said.
The exhibit features 16 portraits by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice of women across the country who work on the rails, roads and bridges.
Five of them are New Yorkers, including Ronnie Hakim, the MTA's interim CEO.
"Through 'Women Can Build,' we hope to expose young women and girls to women who are working in these non-traditional fields," said Malika Connor, campaign coordinator with Jobs to Move America.
Such as Elizabeth Perry and Anne Latham. They've risen through the ranks at the factory in upstate Hornell, where MTA subway cars are assembled..
"When we started, we did the cleaning of the cars. The men built them and the women cleaned them," Latham said.
"Many years ago, I had the opportunity to ride on a transit car here in New York City. At that time, I was wiring train-line boxes. And I said to my husband, I said, 'I bet I built that train-line box that's underneath this car,'" Perry said.
Now, the women can check out more than their handiwork. They can see themselves, too.
The "Women Can Build" photos will remain on display here on Gouvernor Street, as well as around the corner on Water Street, through at least May 15.