Engineering is a great field for women but is a field lacking women - why is that?  Engineering is a great field to work in; it pays well; the work is rewarding; it's stable and there are plenty of career opportunities - so why so few women?  Perhaps young women get discouraged from math and related subjects at a young age. University of Wisconsin-Madison psychiatry professor Janet Hyde states "In the United States, girls have reached parity with boys in math performance at all grade levels through high school".  Various studies claim similar findings yet few women tend to seek careers in engineering related fields.  Could it be due to a lack of interest in these subjects or a lack of exposure to the idea of engineering related careers?
 

One explanation may be peer pressure in that young women feel lured into what is perceived as more feminine careers.  The careers many young women see themselves working in may be influenced by modern day gender based stereotypes.  Young women are influenced by a wide range of factors including gender stereotypes, societal messages, and family dynamics when considering a career choice or area of study. While they may have had exposure to women in positions such as lawyers, nurses, doctors, and teachers, either by what they view in television or who they come into contact in their daily lives; they may limit their career choice based on these influences.  Perhaps if they were exposed to successful women scientists, architects, engineers, or designers in their lives they might visualize themselves in one of these careers just as they have done with more common careers for women.  This is why it is important for young women to have exposure to the endless possibilities of engineering careers and perhaps even a gentle push as young women are rarely encouraged by their teachers, counselors, or parents to pursue engineering.  This could partly be due to a lack of understanding of what engineering is due to limited exposure in high school.  Young women may not choose engineering because they may not understand the applications of engineering or how they can make a difference in the world within that field.  But with some exposure and guidance early on, young women might be more apt to choose engineering careers.

Kelly White and Mary E. Thomas

Schneider Electric

Rutherford County, Tennessee