Identifying Gender Barriers

Summary

The web content discusses the underrepresentation of women in mechanical engineering and related fields, the stereotypes and misconceptions that contribute to this gender barrier, and the diverse opportunities available in the profession that can align with women's varying interests and lifestyles.

Abstract

The article "Identifying Gender Barriers" delves into the persistent gender disparity in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, materials, and aerospace disciplines, particularly in the UK and more severely in developing countries. It highlights the traditional machismo perception of these fields and the resulting low participation of women, which is attributed to deep-rooted educational practices, curriculum design, and societal stereotypes. The piece emphasizes the need to redefine the image of engineering to include a broader range of roles that appeal to diverse interests, from office-based positions to fieldwork. It also addresses the misconception that engineering always demands high mathematical proficiency, clarifying that many engineering roles do not involve complex daily mathematics. The author, Sumera Rizwan, with input from Dr. R.S Choudhry, aims to inspire women by showcasing the variety of career paths in engineering and paying tribute to influential women engineers who have made significant contributions to the field.

Opinions

The author respects different views on femininity and engineering but stresses that the traditional, masculine image of mechanical engineering is only one aspect of the profession.
There is a call to highlight women role models in engineering to foster inclusivity and attract more women to the field.
The article suggests that engineering careers can be tailored to individual preferences and lifestyles, offering a range of opportunities from office-based roles to extensive fieldwork.
The author acknowledges that while mathematics is fundamental in engineering, not all engineering jobs require constant solving of complex equations, thus appealing to a broader range of mathematical interests.
Sumera Rizwan, the author, is passionate about encouraging women in engineering and does so by sharing inspiring stories of women engineers who have shaped the industry with their inventions and contributions.

Women in engineering

The inclusivity challenge

Mechanical Engineering and associated sister disciplines such as manufacturing, materials, and aerospace are often considered machismo, with significant under-representation of women in these fields. The situation has marginally improved in recent years but in most mechanical engineering classes even in the UK, you still see less than twenty percent women. The situation is even bleaker in developing and under-developed countries where strong social barriers exist to the participation of women in such disciplines.

Identifying the barriers

When you consult the educationist they cite various reasons for this lack of inclusivity, some of these reasons are dug deep into the way we have traditionally taught these disciplines and the curriculum design itself, while others are more to do with what women perceive them to be.

This perception is partly due to stereotypes and partially due to a lack of factual information about what it really means to be a Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or Aerospace Engineer. Similarly, there is a need to highlight the relevant women role models for these disciplines so that we can make engineering a more inclusive profession.

Changing the traditional perception

The traditional perception of mechanical and manufacturing that many of us have in mind is greasy job shops, sweaty overhauls from the heat of furnaces and days, and weeks away from families in oil fields in the middle of deserts. While, for someone daring women whose idol is the Laura Croft from Tomb Raider, these may be images that they look up to for a vast majority of us this is still not the type of image that they associate with femininity.

I respect both views, so I am not going to embroil myself in a debate about changing the way we view or define femininity, rather what I would like to bring to your attention that the previously stated perceived image of these engineering disciplines is only one side of the coin.

There is a whole range of job roles and opportunities that differ widely from these and regardless of the image you look up to as a woman you can find something that you may find very interesting and satisfying as a career choice in Mechanical Engineering.

A common misconception

Another common misconception is that engineers invariably always require very high mathematical proficiency. While it is true that engineering requires an analytical approach and all engineering disciplines are underpinned by strong mathematical foundations, relatively few engineers actually work in job roles that require them to solve complex equations on a day to day basis. Thus, again depending on your appetite for mathematics you can choose to be in job roles that are relevant to you.

Identifying opportunities

For those not familiar with the range of diversity in mechanical and related engineering careers, it may come as a surprise that as a graduate woman mechanical engineer you will be in a unique position to choose from career pathways that on one extreme can be completely office-based roles, for example, a mechanical design stress-engineer at ATKINS (that in certain cases may even be suitable for homeworking) to those that require you to be on the field all the time (with twenty to thirty days field rota at a stretch) — for example a field engineer with an oil-exploration firm — and many roles in between these two extremes. This allows you to focus on a track that meets your lifestyle needs and your unique career ambitions.

A tribute to women in engineering

I would like to end by sharing a very interesting short animation about the fantastic Women Engineers like Mary Anderson, Alice H. Parker, Mária Telkes, and many others who invented new technologies and made an immense contribution to many engineering fields. Have a look at https://youtu.be/Vg0NCzRoO0U.

Sumera Rizwan is a Mother and a Computer Science Graduate. She lives in Derby UK. She is passionate about expressing her self through her stories. She talks from her heart and aims to touch the hearts of her readers.

P.S: This article is written through consultation with Dr. R.S Choudhry who is a Professional Engineer for the past 18 years and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering.