Women in Engineering

Introduction

Women have always participated in the institutions of the society throughout the history. Even in times of wars or crisis women have had some contribution. Yet, women have not been thought of as doing actual work. As we all know that our society is still considered being a male dominant society, who forced women out of the public work arena as they believed their position of power was threatened. Hence women in our society were given employment that was unskilled, low status, poorly paid, seasonal and irregular. This was highly de-motivating for the women gender. Yet, women managed to prove their skills and capabilities of being able to work and contribute to the society as much as men do.

Women began to work out of economic necessity, women of lower economic status, married or single, working outside the home. Women's wages tend to be lower. Also, working women had and still have to perform the household chores on a par with their duties (Smith, p.97-105).

(Hatmaker, p. 45-49)

The field of engineering itself changed a lot as in early 19th century engineers were confined to building and designing infrastructures, engines, transmission systems and power generation like roads, canals, steam engines, telegraphs, generators, etc. Whereas today in the 20th century they are building refineries, plants, production facilities like pharmaceutical and food processing units, etc (Layne, p. 113-129).

These things did attract women in opting engineering as a profession but there was no significant increase in number of practicing women engineers. Engineering was still considered being a male profession.

”Given the shortage of technical and engineering skills, efforts have been made to encourage women to pursue engineering education. Though these efforts have had some success, there has not been a similar increase in the numbers of women in the profession, suggesting that engineering education may discourage women from pursuing these careers” (Burke & Mattis, p. 15-47).

Discussion

The number of women in science and engineering is growing, yet men continue to outnumber women, especially at the upper levels of the professions. Girls and boys take math and science courses in almost in equal numbers and around same as many girls as boys leave their respective high school and pursue science and engineering majors in college. Yet the numbers of men pursuing these majors are still high. Among first-year college students, women are less likely than men to say that they aim to major in science, engineering, or math (MSE). By graduation, men outnumber women in nearly every science and engineering field. The difference is dramatic, with women earning only 20 percent of bachelor's degrees. Women's representing in science and engineering colleges further declines at the graduate level and in the shift to the workplace.

Women have significantly advanced into every field, area, occupation or interest where men had dominance and power. With the passage of time, more and more women have started acquiring qualification and started to learn skills to perform different tasks. They have discovered that science and engineering fields are not as difficult as they appear ...