Comments on: Am I Obligated to be a Woman in Engineering?

By: CHE 66

CHE 66 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:07:00 +0000

Here’s a friendly advise from an old Fem-ChE, ’66. Give it an old college try in finding meaningful relationships. In solving engneering problems with limited data available, you set up a basis of your calculations and then you go ahead using the whatever mathematical equations and/or functions are available and prove that your assumptions are reasonable. Use the same technique in finding relationships that is favorable to your values and your technical training. Just as in experiments in school, you have to face every situation in an objective way. Set up your baseline requirements: college graduate, good communication skills, etc. Generate a procedure just as you set the temperature, pressure and environment of your experiments. Proceed to perform the experiment. Whatever the results are: document in a very objective manner. You may have to repeat until you find the nearest answer.
Women who chose engineering as their calling are self-confident – this come from surviving an all male-dominated field. Show this side of you at work as well as in social environment. When on a date, do not hesitate to offer paying for dinner – after all you make a good paycheck just as he does! However, be discreet.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:05:00 +0000

I can’t speak about the USA but man I’m glad I don’t live there. I’m an chemical engineer (British born) working in Sydney Australia. I’ve worked in the UK, NZ and now Australia and while I agree there is an old boys club I have never experienced the sexism and discrimination you describe above. I dress smart (pretty dresses) but by no means am I the dumb little girl or the bitch. I’m just an engineer like all the others. I think perhaps the ratio of male to female engineers is less here in Oz. Although my last company I was 1 women to 80 males and I really didn’t have any issues and I worked for a D&C contractor. The only time I really had an issue was when I reminded them I was female by using my uterus and having a child. I’d say I get treated differently as a working mother than as a female in general. My attitude has always been do my job, be the best I can be and have some fun along the way. I hope that more women go into Engineering and that you succeed in getting a women in the White House. Having lived in three countries with female Prime Ministers I’ve always thought women in high power jobs was possible. Perhaps the US isn’t quiet ready for that yet. One step at a time. As to Ff1111181 and your daughter I would say go for it and good luck.

By: Ff111181

Ff111181 — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Thanks for this article. As a matter of fact, last night I went with my 14yr old daughter to her Global Technology magnet program orientation. And the program coordinator was very encouraging towards the girls in the room. He also explained how there are not many women in the field, now I understand why. I will continue to encourage my daughter to follow her dreams but prepare her to deal with the other side of the coin.