Women in Engineering

www.asme.org

In 1927, at the Solvay Conference on Physics the only woman in attendance was Marie Curie. In 1960, less than 1% of recorded engineers were women. Throughout 1971-72, 17% polled Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) majors were women. In 2014 women only held 25% of STEM jobs. In 2015, l begin my Electrical Engineering major at MSU and l always wonder where are all my ladies at so that together help rectify the gender imbalance in Engineering.

A lot of researches have been conducted as to why there are few women in engineering. Most of these researches had common outcomes. The reasons included many girls were raised in societies where science, engineering and mathematical jobs are largely male professions. The media has also gone an extra mile in perpetuating the idea that scientists are males by giving little representation of prominent female engineers. Due to the preexisting gender stereotypes women feel demotivated to strive in the engineering field. Whatever the reason, society has accepted that it is a huge problem that needs a solution.

In 1950 Elsie Eaves established the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) so as to inform female students about opportunities in the engineering field and encourage them to achieve higher. This opened avenues for other professional bodies linking women practicing engineers to other female mentors so that they can get role models. More and more the media has been representing women in engineering .I am convinced that untiring efforts being invested by different bodies will see the gender ratio in STEM taking a good turn.

Being a first generation and first ever engineering major in my family , l believe there is power for women to turn the tables. To all my ladies out there, let nothing hold you back and chase your dreams.

-Panashe, M

Sources

"Women In Engineering in the United States." Wikipedia.Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_engineering_in_the_United_States>.

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