5 answers
Cathryn
Student
Brayton, IA
1
Question
Asked
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Why is it very rare and difficult to find female students doing engineering courses and how can they be positive about it?
Being a female student and someone who loves doing things like electrical ,i would love to see myself be among the few females' students who are going to encourage other females.
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5 answers
Robert Epstein
General Manager
82
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Hi Cathryn,
Please don’t be discouraged. You should definitely go for it in engineering!
Take to heart the fine answers provided by the other responders to this question. In my EE curriculum in college 50 years ago, there were only two women out of the hundreds who graduated. I'm shocked that this negative trend still exists. Actually some of the top engineers who worked for me in aerospace and medical products were women. Anything you can do to set a respected example for the future is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy your adventure. You’ll find you have more supporters than you imagine.
Please don’t be discouraged. You should definitely go for it in engineering!
Take to heart the fine answers provided by the other responders to this question. In my EE curriculum in college 50 years ago, there were only two women out of the hundreds who graduated. I'm shocked that this negative trend still exists. Actually some of the top engineers who worked for me in aerospace and medical products were women. Anything you can do to set a respected example for the future is greatly appreciated.
Enjoy your adventure. You’ll find you have more supporters than you imagine.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1852
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Cathryn !
STEM is a very good field to pursue for everyone and you should do all that you can to prepare yourself for this rewarding career within your chosen STEM field. It's not too productive to be caught up on which genders are in which fields. The important thing is that in very early history as well as in today's times, there are many women in the STEM field of work. In the United States, within the past two year's statistics, there are 18.9 million women working in STEM. We should celebrate their individual accomplishments instead of dwelling on what gender they are. From time memorial and especially accelerating in the 1960's, women have proven that they could do anything that they put their mind to as well as having the persistence and confidence to pursue their life's goals. You can too. Barriers are not a part of the picture or good for anyone's plans.
The point is that the work and skills for STEM are what's important, not any characteristic of people who are interested in it. Perhaps the answer to your question is that people are inspired in different ways and maybe STEM is just not an interest for many women, but they have other goals and plans that may not seem interesting to you. Maybe it's because I do know many women in STEM jobs and I believe that professionals are valuable regardless of their gender or other personal traits.
So, you can read a lot about this subject on line and in books and all it will do will either enforce what you already hold to be true or you would get a different perspective that may advance your outlook. Also, the school you go to may not have as many women sitting in STEM classes as you may hope, but does it really make a difference ? There are many more schools than yours where there are women students and 18.9 million women or more already having a great STEM career. Don't let anything hold you back and you should only pursue a career because you are driven and love the work. You don't need to prove anything as I have advised a student yesterday who had the same question you've presented.
If you want to see yourself as a future positive influence, try to reassess your barriers, whatever they may be, and know that you have the ability to be anything you want. Once you can focus on the subjects and practical work in school, you'll be off to a good start.
So to reassure you about the concern you've stated, it's not rare for women to study or be in STEM. Just because you do not see them and they are not tangible doesn't mean they don't exist. And think of the many women who are studying STEM remotely who you would never see anyway. If you really commit yourself and love STEM, you will be positive about it.
I hope this is something to think about so that you can comfortably proceed with your STEM studies. Best wishes to you in all you do !
HISTORY OF WOMEN IN STEM https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women-in-stem
HEADLINES AND HEROS - WOMEN IN STEM https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2022/03/historical-women-in-stem/
13 WOMEN IN STEM WHO CHANGED THE WORLD https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/7213/13-Women-in-STEM-Who-Changed-the-World
STEM WOMEN - DEVELOPMENT INTO THE 21st CENTURY https://sites.lib.jmu.edu/sc-interviews/2021/03/13/development-of-women-in-stem-into-the-21st-century/
STEM is a very good field to pursue for everyone and you should do all that you can to prepare yourself for this rewarding career within your chosen STEM field. It's not too productive to be caught up on which genders are in which fields. The important thing is that in very early history as well as in today's times, there are many women in the STEM field of work. In the United States, within the past two year's statistics, there are 18.9 million women working in STEM. We should celebrate their individual accomplishments instead of dwelling on what gender they are. From time memorial and especially accelerating in the 1960's, women have proven that they could do anything that they put their mind to as well as having the persistence and confidence to pursue their life's goals. You can too. Barriers are not a part of the picture or good for anyone's plans.
The point is that the work and skills for STEM are what's important, not any characteristic of people who are interested in it. Perhaps the answer to your question is that people are inspired in different ways and maybe STEM is just not an interest for many women, but they have other goals and plans that may not seem interesting to you. Maybe it's because I do know many women in STEM jobs and I believe that professionals are valuable regardless of their gender or other personal traits.
So, you can read a lot about this subject on line and in books and all it will do will either enforce what you already hold to be true or you would get a different perspective that may advance your outlook. Also, the school you go to may not have as many women sitting in STEM classes as you may hope, but does it really make a difference ? There are many more schools than yours where there are women students and 18.9 million women or more already having a great STEM career. Don't let anything hold you back and you should only pursue a career because you are driven and love the work. You don't need to prove anything as I have advised a student yesterday who had the same question you've presented.
If you want to see yourself as a future positive influence, try to reassess your barriers, whatever they may be, and know that you have the ability to be anything you want. Once you can focus on the subjects and practical work in school, you'll be off to a good start.
So to reassure you about the concern you've stated, it's not rare for women to study or be in STEM. Just because you do not see them and they are not tangible doesn't mean they don't exist. And think of the many women who are studying STEM remotely who you would never see anyway. If you really commit yourself and love STEM, you will be positive about it.
I hope this is something to think about so that you can comfortably proceed with your STEM studies. Best wishes to you in all you do !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Violaine Gonzalez
Senior Associate
176
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Violaine’s Answer
Hi Cathryn, The underrepresentation of women in engineering courses and careers can be attributed to various societal, cultural, and systemic factors. While progress has been made in recent years, there are still challenges that discourage women from pursuing engineering and related STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Here are some reasons why it's rare and difficult to find female students in engineering courses:
1. **Societal Stereotypes and Bias:** Stereotypes and biases about gender roles and abilities can influence perceptions of engineering as a male-dominated field. From a young age, girls may be discouraged or steered away from pursuing interests or careers in STEM due to these stereotypes.
2. **Lack of Role Models and Representation:** The limited visibility of female engineers and STEM role models can make it difficult for girls and young women to envision themselves in engineering careers. Without representation, it can be challenging for them to see engineering as a viable and welcoming option.
3. **Educational Environment and Support:** Some educational environments may lack support and encouragement for girls to pursue STEM subjects. Factors such as gender-biased teaching methods, lack of mentorship opportunities, and unconscious bias in academic and career counseling can contribute to girls feeling discouraged or excluded from STEM fields.
4. **Work-Life Balance Concerns:** Engineering careers are often perceived as demanding and requiring long hours, which may deter women who prioritize work-life balance or have caregiving responsibilities from pursuing these careers.
5. **Unconscious Bias in Hiring and Promotion:** Even after women graduate with engineering degrees, they may face challenges in the workplace due to unconscious bias in hiring, promotion, and professional development opportunities.
To address these challenges and encourage more women to pursue engineering courses and careers, it's essential to take proactive steps to create a more inclusive and supportive environment:
1. **Promote STEM Education for Girls:** Encourage girls to explore STEM subjects from an early age through hands-on learning experiences, mentorship programs, and exposure to female STEM role models.
2. **Challenge Stereotypes and Bias:** Raise awareness of gender stereotypes and bias in STEM fields and work to challenge them through education, advocacy, and cultural change.
3. **Provide Supportive Educational Environments:** Create supportive and inclusive learning environments that foster interest and confidence in STEM subjects among girls and young women. This can include targeted outreach programs, STEM clubs, and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM education.
4. **Offer Mentorship and Support Networks:** Provide mentorship and networking opportunities for female students and professionals in engineering and STEM fields. Mentorship programs can help provide guidance, support, and encouragement for women pursuing careers in engineering.
5. **Address Workplace Culture and Policies:** Create inclusive workplace cultures that value diversity and support the advancement of women in engineering and STEM careers. Implement policies and practices that promote work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and equitable opportunities for career development and advancement.
By addressing these factors and creating more inclusive pathways into engineering and STEM fields, we can empower more women to pursue their interests and talents in these areas and contribute to a more diverse and innovative workforce.
1. **Societal Stereotypes and Bias:** Stereotypes and biases about gender roles and abilities can influence perceptions of engineering as a male-dominated field. From a young age, girls may be discouraged or steered away from pursuing interests or careers in STEM due to these stereotypes.
2. **Lack of Role Models and Representation:** The limited visibility of female engineers and STEM role models can make it difficult for girls and young women to envision themselves in engineering careers. Without representation, it can be challenging for them to see engineering as a viable and welcoming option.
3. **Educational Environment and Support:** Some educational environments may lack support and encouragement for girls to pursue STEM subjects. Factors such as gender-biased teaching methods, lack of mentorship opportunities, and unconscious bias in academic and career counseling can contribute to girls feeling discouraged or excluded from STEM fields.
4. **Work-Life Balance Concerns:** Engineering careers are often perceived as demanding and requiring long hours, which may deter women who prioritize work-life balance or have caregiving responsibilities from pursuing these careers.
5. **Unconscious Bias in Hiring and Promotion:** Even after women graduate with engineering degrees, they may face challenges in the workplace due to unconscious bias in hiring, promotion, and professional development opportunities.
To address these challenges and encourage more women to pursue engineering courses and careers, it's essential to take proactive steps to create a more inclusive and supportive environment:
1. **Promote STEM Education for Girls:** Encourage girls to explore STEM subjects from an early age through hands-on learning experiences, mentorship programs, and exposure to female STEM role models.
2. **Challenge Stereotypes and Bias:** Raise awareness of gender stereotypes and bias in STEM fields and work to challenge them through education, advocacy, and cultural change.
3. **Provide Supportive Educational Environments:** Create supportive and inclusive learning environments that foster interest and confidence in STEM subjects among girls and young women. This can include targeted outreach programs, STEM clubs, and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM education.
4. **Offer Mentorship and Support Networks:** Provide mentorship and networking opportunities for female students and professionals in engineering and STEM fields. Mentorship programs can help provide guidance, support, and encouragement for women pursuing careers in engineering.
5. **Address Workplace Culture and Policies:** Create inclusive workplace cultures that value diversity and support the advancement of women in engineering and STEM careers. Implement policies and practices that promote work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and equitable opportunities for career development and advancement.
By addressing these factors and creating more inclusive pathways into engineering and STEM fields, we can empower more women to pursue their interests and talents in these areas and contribute to a more diverse and innovative workforce.
Anna Cantella
Exercise Physiology
25
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Anna’s Answer
Hey Cathryn,
Wow, this is absolutely fantastic! Please don't let any hurdles dampen your spirits, because it's evident that you're truly passionate about this. It's bound to turn into a wonderful career for you! As a fellow STEM major, I can totally relate to the challenges that might seem daunting, but remember, when you love what you do and are passionate about it, it becomes your strength. And yes, even if it's a field dominated by men, don't let that intimidate you. Instead, wear it as a badge of honor. You're a powerful, independent woman who is doing an incredible job by persisting in your studies.
Wishing you all the best,
Girl Power!!
AC
Wow, this is absolutely fantastic! Please don't let any hurdles dampen your spirits, because it's evident that you're truly passionate about this. It's bound to turn into a wonderful career for you! As a fellow STEM major, I can totally relate to the challenges that might seem daunting, but remember, when you love what you do and are passionate about it, it becomes your strength. And yes, even if it's a field dominated by men, don't let that intimidate you. Instead, wear it as a badge of honor. You're a powerful, independent woman who is doing an incredible job by persisting in your studies.
Wishing you all the best,
Girl Power!!
AC
Michaela Chew
1
Answer
Updated
Michaela’s Answer
Hi Cathryn,
To add on to what everyone else has said here - if you college has a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) I found that's a great way to meet other female engineers and build community across different engineering majors. If your school does not have a SWE, there may be a local chapter of the organization you can get connected with or join their mentorship program virtually. You can find all SWE Sections here: https://swe.org/membership/sections/
Wishing you all the best!
Michaela
To add on to what everyone else has said here - if you college has a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) I found that's a great way to meet other female engineers and build community across different engineering majors. If your school does not have a SWE, there may be a local chapter of the organization you can get connected with or join their mentorship program virtually. You can find all SWE Sections here: https://swe.org/membership/sections/
Wishing you all the best!
Michaela