The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) recently presented its annual media briefing on engineering trends, highlighting insights on social science research from 2020 and future study aspects that could level the playing field for gender equality in STEM fields.
SWE panelists provided insights on multiple topics, including why there is still an underrepresentation of women in engineering fields, pay gaps between male and female engineers, and why girls entering college often choose chem and bio over ee and mechanical engineering.
The briefing featured a trio of speakers with various backgrounds, including Anne Perusek (Director of Editorial and Publications at SWE), Peter Meiksins (Ph.D. Cleveland State University), and Roberta Rincon (Ph.D., Associate Director of Research at SWE). SWE was formally founded in 1950, but its origins can be traced back to the 1940s, as women found new opportunities in engineering when men were heading off to WWII.
SWE is a not-for-profit education and service organization for women in the STEM fields and is an advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. "Empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion," states the organization's mission statement. It's also open to any gender and background and promotes and supports diversity within the STEM fields.
The Society of Women Engineers also publishes an annual literature review for the State of Women in Engineering, detailing accomplishments, breakthroughs, and setbacks through articles submitted by its members and academic papers. This provides an overview, analysis, insight, and recommendations to the current state of women in the engineering and STEM disciplines from the previous year and what the future might bring.
2019 infographic from SWE on women engineers in the workforce and their percentages compared to their male counterparts. (Society of Women Engineers)
On the topic of pathways to becoming an engineer, girls are less inclined to major in engineering when going into college. Over the last decade, interest in majoring in engineering and sciences has grown, but women's interest in pursuing a degree has lagged behind men's. According to Professor Peter Meiksins, one reason women are slow at gaining engineering degrees is that they seem to express a lower level of math confidence than men. While women excel at math and science, the confidence to take those courses appears to be lacking. Parental and peer encouragement are also significant factors noted, as some girls look to go where their parents or friends have gone in terms of academics and what they've majored in.
The research also states that some academic institutions present their curriculum interests differently between girls and boys. Think of it as the military looking for recruits or corporations catering to new talent; the presented information is advertised differently to gain those interests. Women also tend to have more altruistic motivations, such as solving social problems, which the engineering community hasn't been particularly vocal about, although that notion is changing.
Both women and men often find themselves going down a career path that no longer holds interest for them, and that can be true when it comes to majoring in engineering, as over 32% of women switch from STEM programs over to other fields. Only 30% who have degrees are still working in the engineering fields. Another central point Meiksins touched on: girls who attend college have a wide choice of courses they can take over previous generations. Some prefer to enroll in more female-friendly classes, some of which are not math-intensive.
The number of degrees awarded to women in the engineering fields based on an SWE 2019 study. (Society of Women Engineers)
STEM identity is another issue that can affect women, which is essential if girls plan to pursue a career in engineering. According to SWE Associate Director Roberta Rincon, research has ramped up in that area, with an undergoing study at the University of Austin looking into STEM identity for girls in high school. Girls looking to find their engineering identities are another essential element for obtaining a college degree. The study looks at how girls' views change in those four years and how their interests fluctuate over that same period.
Rincon explained that not every girl or boy who goes into high school has an embedded interest in math and sciences, and not all will maintain that interest while taking STEM-based classes. Ask any high school kid if there are social pressures while attending school -- dressing in the latest fashion, playing sports, interest in the arts, or even building robots -- and almost every kid will say yes. Peer pressure plays a significant role for girls and boys in high school; they may not necessarily have the same interests, but no one wants to be left out of the social circles. Parents, again, play a crucial part in this area, as they tend to think about what their child could become as a young adult. Some don't see their children becoming engineers over other professions, and sadly, some have no interest in what their kids can achieve or even take an interest in their activities.
Parents, teachers, and students all have different expectations or ideas about who is best suited for what, certainly so when it comes to gender. Who is a good fit for what profession based on gender is a perceived outdated notion as more women are taking active roles in jobs that were only male-centric 20 years ago, including military fighter pilots, CEOs of large tech companies, and yes, even lead engineers and scientists. Although not as pronounced as 60 years ago, gendered perception still exists and is still a headwind for women looking to pursue a carrier in engineering.
( A complete video of the 45-minute SWE presentation is available online.)
Within the engineering disciplines themselves, women seem to gravitate towards environmental, chemical, and biomedical engineering, which researchers are studying to better understand. One theory outlined in the SWE report suggests that women are drawn to social professions, or community-oriented occupations, where helping people plays a significant role. Solving real-world problems seems to be regarded higher than, say, an aerospace engineer designing aircraft. There is a notion that male engineers prefer mechanical and electrical engineering over those in chemistry or based on the environment. Still, again, those are just perceived notions that some women feel prevents them from entering those fields.
STEM was designed to get both girls and boys interested in math and the sciences. While researchers see girls gaining interest in robotics and computers, more tend to gravitate toward AP-oriented classes in chemistry and biology. Today's STEM messages to get kids interested in those areas are still gender-based, although programs have been instituted for girls that focus on collaboration and breaking gender stereotypes. That being said, the playing field for girls in high school, college, and the engineering fields are becoming more level every day, but there is still a long way to go before becoming genuinely equal. The Society of Women Engineers research report provides more detailed information.
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