STEM EQUITY - MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS - SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
ANNUAL LITERATURE REVIEW
REINFORCING BEST PRACTICES GLOBALLY
EARLY CAREER EXPERIENCES OF
WOMEN OF COLOR
SWE’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDY STATE OF WOMEN
TITLE IX UPDATE IN ENGINEERING 2018
MAGAZINE OF THE SOCIET Y OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
STEM EQUITY
JOANN DICKEY
MoRe than just numbeRs
Society of Women Engineers
130 E. Randolph Street, Suite 3500
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: 877.793.4636
Fax: 312.596.5252
Website: www.swe.org
Email: hq@swe.org
VOLUME 64 | NUMBER 2 | STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018
MAGAZINE OF THE SOCIET Y OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
STEM EQUITY:
MoRe than just numbeRs
42
JO
AN
N
DI
CK
EY
Karen Horting, CAE | Executive Director & CEO
SWE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: DIRECTORS:
President Advocacy Speaker of the Senate
Jonna Gerken | Pratt & Whitney Rachel Morford – The Aerospace Kate Hull – Spire Consulting
Corporation Group
President-elect
Penny Wirsing, F.SWE Achievement Collegiate Director
Torrance Refining Company LLC Dayna Johnson, P.E. – GE Energy Ingrid Arambula – Texas Tech
Connections University
Secretary
Alexis McKittrick, Ph.D. Membership Initiatives Special Director
IDA Science and Technology Michele O’Shaughnessy – U.S. Rainia L. Washington – Lockheed
Policy Institute Department of Energy Martin Corp.
Treasurer Professional Excellence Special Director
Heather Doty | Ball Aerospace Karen Roth – Booz Allen Hamilton Cheri Chappelle – Retired
Regions
Lisa Rimpf – The Babcock & Wilcox Co.
OPENING THOUGHTS
3 Opening Thoughts More Than Just Numbers
4
41
Women in Engineering: A Review of the 2017 Literature
Messaging to Tween Girls
T hanks to research,
we recognize and
appreciate that a diverse
• Then and Now: Women Engineers’ Perspec-
tives on Changes and Challenges in the Field
Since the 1970s. Insights from this cohort, who
STEM workforce is vital came of age at a time when female engineering
42 STEM Equity: More Than Just Numbers to innovation. It is the enrollment had increased rapidly, may help
basis for developing tech- guide current and future policies.
48 Reinforcing Best Practices Globally nologies that truly serve
all people, reflects the
53 Title IX Update sense of fairness integral
to American society, and Director of Editorial & Publications
56 Insights from SWE's Community College Study ensures a strong position in the global economy. anne.perusek@swe.org
Through research, we also come to a better un-
64 Understanding the Early Career Experiences of derstanding of the experiences of underrepresented
Women of Color groups, which can guide us to develop constructive Our Cover and Illustrations
policies and solutions to the low numbers of women
68 Then and Now: Women Engineers' Perspectives and people of color in STEM professions. In this Our cover graphic and several images throughout this
spirit, we offer this State of Women in Engineering issue are hand-rendered Spirograph® illustrations.
74 Final Words issue, which includes our annual review of the The Spirograph became a popular children’s toy in the
social science literature regarding women in engi- 1960s, but its roots are in engineering and mathemat-
neering, now in its 16th year. For a compilation of ics. Invented by British engineer Denys Fisher in 1962,
all our reviews to date, please see: https://research. the Spirograph joined the ranks of other mechanical
swe.org/literature-reviews/. devices designed over the years to function as math-
This issue also includes: ematical kinematic models. That’s because long before
• Messaging to Tween Girls: A Review of the computer-aided design (CAD) and three-dimensional
Literature. This summarizes a larger review graphics were available, mathematical kinematic mod-
Engage with SWE Magazine articles on the Society’s Facebook page: on literature regarding girls ages 8–12. els were useful in drawing the properties of curves.
www.facebook.com/SWEorg. Or through Twitter: #SWE (@SWEtalk) • STEM Equity: More Than Just Numbers. Our
For a time, the Spirograph was billed as the num-
cover story delves into the available details
ber one educational toy in the United States. It even
and possibilities presented by a new program
inspired an article, “Mathematics of the Spirograph,”
DOWNLOAD THE SWE MAGAZINE APP coming to 10 colleges and universities in the
by Robert J. Whitaker, Ph.D., faculty member of the
TO YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET! United States.
department of physics and astronomy at Southwest
• Reinforcing Best Practices Globally. A suc-
Missouri State University, where he explored how
cessful voluntary program in the U.K. rates
cycloidal curves in mathematics could be produced by
EDITORIAL: ABOUT SWE: SWE (ISSN 1070-6232), Magazine of the Society universities on gender equality, encourages
Anne M. Perusek of Women Engineers, is published quarterly by the using the Spirograph. Our use of the images here is a
The Society of Women Engineers
Society of Women Engineers, 130 East Randolph funders to heed the results, and is expanding.
Director of Editorial bit of mathematical and artistic whimsy, inspired by
and Publications (SWE), founded in 1950, is a not- Street, Suite 3500, Chicago, Illinois 60601. • Title IX Update. Recent guidance from the
our cover story, STEM Equity: More Than Just Numbers.
anne.perusek@swe.org for-profit educational and service ADVERTISING RATES: U.S. Department of Education has resulted in
organization. SWE is the driving force For advertising rates and information, serious concerns.
Carol Polakowski call John Goodrich at 434-244-9776.
Senior Editor that establishes engineering as a • Insights from SWE’s Community College Sources:
carol.polakowski@swe.org ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
highly desirable career aspiration SWE members,$10.00 included in dues; SWE Study. This pathway could be key to diversify- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
JoAnn Dickey Design for women. SWE empowers women student members, $7.50 included in dues; non- ing the profession. doi/10.1111/j.1949-8594.1988.tb11854.x/abstract
Art Direction and Production members, $30.00. Periodicals postage paid at
to succeed and advance in those
Chicago, IL and additional mailing offices.
• Understanding the Early Career Experiences http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2014/03/the-spiro-
RESEARCH: aspirations and be recognized for of Women of Color. A joint study by SWE and
POSTMASTER: graph-and-kinematic-models-making-math-touchable-
Roberta Rincon, Ph.D.
SWE Manager of Research
their life-changing contributions Send address changes to: SWE, c/o Society of the National Society of Black Engineers sheds and-pretty.html
roberta.rincon@swe.org and achievements as women Women Engineers at the above address. light on the challenges, strategies, and sup-
engineers and leaders. © Copyright 2018 Society of Women Engineers ports for women of color.
SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 3
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
Women in Engineering: the profession leave (and the lack of clarity as to
whether it is actually true that women are more
search; as studies we have reported on in previous
years make clear, achieving gender integration
A Review of the 2017 Literature
likely to leave than men and at what point in their in engineering involves not simply changing
careers); or on the reasons few women choose to women’s interests and preferences but also making
enter engineering in the first place. This year, there engineering a less-gendered place in which women
SWE’s assessment of the most significant research found in the past was a notable absence of research on the so-called can feel they belong. For that to happen, a better
“leaky pipeline.” Whether this reflects the fact that understanding of the gendered culture of contem-
year’s social science literature on women engineers and women in researchers have concluded that women’s departure porary engineering is an obvious need.
STEM disciplines, plus recommendations for future analysis and study. from engineering is not the real problem remains to
be seen — research emphases do appear to fluctuate WHERE DOES IT BEGIN?
By Peter Meiksins, Ph.D., Cleveland State University from year to year. Nevertheless, many of the studies One enduring theme in the literature on the
Peggy Layne, P.E., F.SWE, Virginia Tech we reviewed this year were primarily interested underrepresentation of women in engineering
Kacey Beddoes, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell in explaining why girls and young women do not and in related STEM fields focuses on childhood
Bryan Acton, Virginia Tech choose to enter engineering (or math-intensive experiences. As in past years, we reviewed several
Marc Lewis, Virginia Tech STEM fields more broadly) in the first place, articles this year that documented the early devel-
Adam S. Masters, Virginia Tech focusing attention on the limited supply of female opment of gendered differences in interests among
Micah Roediger, Virginia Tech engineering majors as central to understanding children; the early emergence of stereotypical be-
why there are so few female engineers. liefs about math, science, and engineering among
T he fact that there are relatively small numbers
of women in engineering and other math-in-
tensive, technical fields is rapidly becoming a topic
As in previous years, the review team sur-
veyed academic publications and conference
proceedings for the latest research on women in
We were struck,
this year, by the
increased number of
THE DAUGHTERS OF ENGINEERS ARE
children; and the
ways in which adults,
whether consciously or
of interest to more than the readers of SWE Maga- engineering and related fields. We identified more well-conducted studies MUCH LESS LIKELY THAN THE SONS OF unconsciously, contrib-
zine, academics, and experts on gender inequality. than 160 articles, books, and papers in a variety of women in engineer- ENGINEERS TO FOLLOW THEIR PARENTS INTO ute to the development
Several years of headlines describing sexual mis- of disciplines for review. From these, we selected ing outside the U.S., of these differences.
ENGINEERING, ALTHOUGH THE DAUGHTERS
conduct and the mistreatment of female employees those based on extensive research and the best particularly in Europe. Bian, Leslie, and
in the tech sector has made Americans in general scientific methods as well as those that offered The review has always OF ENGINEERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO CHOOSE Cimpian (2017) report
aware of the fact that not only are there very few new insights into established research questions included international ENGINEERING THAN THOSE WHOSE PARENTS on an experimental
women in those industries, but the ones who are or that posed new questions worthy of further in- studies, but the quality study of 400 children
ARE NOT ENGINEERS.
there frequently face unequal, discriminatory, and vestigation. Because one goal of SWE’s literature of those studies seemed conducted in 2017 at
often hostile treatment by their male superiors and review is to disseminate information about exem- considerably higher, the University of Il-
colleagues. It is hard to escape the conclusion that plary research, and to encourage more researchers on average, than in the past. For that reason, we linois. The experiments were designed to examine
these two facts are related — the low numbers of to conduct careful, academically sound studies, have included detailed discussion of a number at what age children begin to develop stereotypical
women in engineering and tech expose them to a we say less here about studies based on one or two of international studies in the review. Adding a views about intellectual abilities and how this
hostile culture, while increasing the numbers of examples or that report on opinion rather than comparative dimension to the study of women in affects their interests. The researchers found that
women in these fields is simultaneously made dif- research findings. engineering is a welcome development, as one can- stereotypes developed quite early, as early as age 6,
ficult by the existence of that culture. This year’s review did not reveal any radically not and should not assume that conditions in the and that there were differences between the boys
This year’s review of the literature on women new research directions in the literature on women U.S. pertain elsewhere (as several of the studies we and girls in their study. One experiment showed
in engineering, thus, has added currency. What in engineering. Although we read a number of very reviewed this year make clear). that by age 6, girls were much less likely than boys
can we learn from academic research about the strong articles that reported on well-conducted re- It was also notable, given the high volume of to associate “brilliance” with their own gender.
reasons for the persistent underrepresentation of search, they generally focused on familiar questions journalistic reports of a hostile climate in technical Other experiments found that girls were less
women in engineering and other technical fields? such as why there are so few women who become workplaces, that very few studies were published interested than boys in games labeled as being for
Is there any reason to hope that the historical interested in STEM during their educational this year that attempted to shed light on the “smart” children and that, by age 6, girls (but not
pattern will change in the foreseeable future? And, careers, what life is like for women in academic nature of that climate and how it affects women boys) had begun to show reduced interest in games
can academic research provide us with a better engineering, and, to a lesser extent, the challenges engineers. Perhaps this is simply a matter of timing for “really, really smart children.” Since other
understanding of how pervasive the experience of a faced by female engineers employed outside the — conducting careful academic studies can take research has shown that there is a belief being good
hostile culture in tech actually is, what its roots are, academy. Last year, we noted that explanations for years, so it may take time for academic researchers at math and science is related to “brilliance,” these
and how much effect it has on keeping the numbers the low numbers of women in engineering tended to “catch up” to the issues raised by news events. findings suggest a possible reason for girls’ reduced
of women in engineering discouragingly low? to focus either on the reasons women who enter Still, this is an obvious direction for future re- interest in entering STEM fields.
4 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 5
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
Speer (2017) analyzed data from the National major choice, which led Speer to conclude that Francis et al. (2017) describe the development and that physics requires cleverness, which was
Longitudinal Study of Youth, finding that, by the researchers may have underestimated the size of of gender stereotypes about physics among older defined as a masculine trait.
time teenagers apply to college, measurable differ- the aptitude differences that have developed by the children. Using interview data from 70 respon- Finally, Ball et al. (2017) conducted an analysis
ences in preparation, as measured by test scores, time children enter university. Speer is not able to dents drawn from the British Economic and Social of a sample of more than 1,000 students in an
have developed and that these are significant say what causes these differences to develop. One Research Council’s study of “young people’s science urban, predominantly minority school district
predictors of choice of college major. Speer argues can also ask how important different outcomes and career aspirations,” they describe a variety of in the southeastern United States. They used
that these differences are more significant than on the ASVAB actually are, since few universities “discourses” teenagers (and their parents) employ expectancy-value theory (EVT) to examine the stu-
has been shown by previous studies. Typically, use this test to evaluate applicants. The test scores in talking about physics. Most women do not use dents’ attitudes with regard to STEM. This theory
researchers focus on SAT scores, which account he examines are also over a decade old, and he the “discourse of equality of opportunity,” which — EVT — holds that attitudes are shaped both by
for only a small portion of the differences between acknowledges that girls’ scores in science and math sees physics as meritocratic. Instead, more women expectancies for success and by “subjective task
males and females in major choices. Speer focuses, have improved over time. Nevertheless, Speer’s apply a discourse that perceives gender discrimina- value,” which comprises several elements, including
instead, on the Armed Services Vocational Apti- study demonstrates the early development of dif- tion and obstacles to women’s entry. Both men utility value (how useful does one see something in
tude Battery (ASVAB), which respondents to the ferences between boys and girls on tests of ability and women, however, often resorted to a discourse helping to achieve a desired end) and intrinsic value
National Longitudinal Study of Youth in 1981 and and knowledge in various subject areas; it is rea- that defined physics as masculine; this included a (how much interest and enjoyment does one derive
1999 completed. The differences between boys’ and sonable to assume that such differences are likely variety of elements, including the view that certain from the activity). Ball et al. found that intrinsic
girls’ scores on this test accounted for a much more to influence students’ eventual choice of major in subjects are masculine or feminine, that men and value was the strongest predictor of high scores
significant portion of the gendered differences in college (and career). women are naturally drawn to different subjects, on math and science affinity, which they believe
It Could Have and Should Have Been Different
Contemporary Americans know that technical work, (although the Navy’s overseas code-breaking labor post-war computer industry in Great Britain. Dr. Hicks When it was realized that computer programming
especially work that demands mathematical skills and force was largely male). describes how the early British computer industry required higher levels of skill, employers ignored the
involves programming computers, is one of the most actually had its origins in wartime code breaking, as female labor force and tried to redefine the work as
Recruiting women as code breakers was not just a
resolutely masculine segments of the labor market. the work done at the famous Bletchley Park was the masculine by defining it as management. This led to
high-tech version of the familiar “Rosie the Riveter”
But, as Jennifer Light wrote a number of years ago in an result not just of the genius of men such as Dr. Turing, persistent labor shortages, as women were ignored and
story. As Mundy points out, code breaking barely exist-
article in the historical journal Technology and Culture, but of early computing machinery and of a largely men with management ability either lacked technical
ed before the war, so there were no barriers to women’s
there was a time, not so very long ago, when “comput- female workforce. The women who worked at Bletchley skills or were lured away into other, nontechnical fields.
entry into the field and no stereotypes to overcome. In
ers were women.” The publication last year of Hidden Park were more than deskilled functionaries; but, their British computing languished as a result.
fact, Mundy argues, a group of highly talented women
Figures, and the subsequent popular film based on the role was obscured by the general perception that they
dominated the very small U.S. code-breaking effort As these histories clearly demonstrate, women did
book, hinted that this was the case (although the focus, were working on office machines performing relatively
prior to World War II, so recruiting more women to the have and continue to have the ability to enter techni-
there, was on race more than gender). Two books pub- routine tasks.
field hardly seemed strange. cal fields, but in the past were let in only because of a
lished this year continue the process of dismantling the
perception that technical work has always been male.
Liza Mundy’s Code Girls relates the “untold story of the
Moreover, although accounts of wartime code breaking
tend to focus on the genius of individual male heroes
A fter the war ended, some of the wartime female
code breakers migrated to the government’s
emerging computing effort. They were defined as low-
wartime emergency or the newness of the field. While
defining their work as routine gave women access, it
limited their ability to become a truly technical labor
such as Alan Turing, Ph.D., the reality is that the work
women code breakers of World War II.” Mundy’s book, level clerical workers and machine operators, however. force. When technical work was seen as requiring real
was defined as routine and meticulous, perfectly
written for a popular audience, recounts how both the In fact, Dr. Hicks notes that, fairly soon after the war, skill, perhaps even genius, men were sought exclusively.
consistent with prevailing stereotypes about women’s
United States Army and Navy, faced with the need to they were actually downgraded, so that they were clas-
tolerance of and talent for such work. The military also Sadly, both of these books indicate that it could have
recruit large numbers of code breakers, hired a sizeable sified as even lower than conventional clerical workers.
quite consciously decided to adopt an assembly line and should have been different. The early women
number of talented young women who had previously The result was that computing work in post-war Britain
approach to the work, which raised their comfort level “computers” were much more than routine work-
served as teachers and/or were recent graduates of was dominated by a deskilled labor force, and Britain’s
with a largely female labor force. Once the war was ers, and there also were female geniuses in the field.
prestigious colleges to do the job. Mundy estimates computing effort failed to take advantage of the real
over, the women were expected to return home, and A small number of these women persisted after war,
that, at its peak in 1945, the Army’s code-breaking talents possessed by the women it employed. Dr. Hicks
most did, although some were quite reluctant. albeit by not marrying or having children.
operation employed 10,500 people, about 70 percent of argues that, in the end, this proved to be the undoing of
whom were women. The Navy had 5,000 code breakers In Programmed Inequality, Marie Hicks, Ph.D., tells the the British computer effort.
in Washington, D.C., 80 percent of whom were women story of women’s role in wartime code breaking and the
6 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 7
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
is linked to more positive attitudes toward STEM. Other studies we read pointed quite explicitly Colette and Marjolaine (2017) examined the effects of childhood experiences on major and
There were gender differences, however. Utility val- to social influences that encourage boys and girls gendered nature of material artifacts in technology career choices later in life.
ues and expectancies had a stronger effect on girls’ to develop stereotypical attitudes and to make textbooks in France. They inventoried the arti- In sum, research published this year provides
than on boys’ attitudes toward the importance of choices that are influenced by them. Eliasson, facts, then submitted the list to a group of almost continued evidence that, quite early in life, boys
math and science. The researchers hypothesize that Karlsson, and Sorensen (2017) conducted a study of 100 girls and boys ages 12–14, asking them whether and girls view engineering, math, and science
this may be related to the fact that girls had lower science classrooms in six schools in Sweden. Using they felt the objects were masculine or feminine. through a gendered lens and develop interests and
utility values and expectancies than boys. This case videotape of science lessons taught by seven male The children considered most of the objects to make choices that are linked to those stereotypes.
study points to another difference between males and seven female teachers, they found that teach- be gender neutral, but those that were gendered This points inevitably to the conclusion that efforts
and females and their attitudes toward STEM that ers tended to pose largely closed questions and tended to be perceived as masculine (of interest to increase the numbers of women in engineering
develops during childhood. that boys were much more likely to answer those or concern to boys, rather than girls). The authors need to begin early and to be sustained throughout
Just how such gendered attitudes in young questions. The authors speculate that this may add that the number of such objects increased in the precollege years. As Fouad and Santana (2017)
children develop remains a matter of some dispute, reflect the fact that, unlike open questions, closed the textbooks targeting 14-year-olds, so the pattern argue in their review of the literature on the role
Engineering Bachelor's
a fact reflected Degrees
in the researchbyweGender
reviewedwithin
this Race/Ethnicity, 2016 have one answer and that it’s
questions typically grows more pronounced as children age. They con- of self-efficacy in shaping children’s desire to enter
(Source: Yoder,
year. SomeEngineering by the Numbers,
regard the emergence of gender American
differ- Society
easier tofor Engineering
shout out answersEducaGon, 2017)
to such questions, clude that this is evidence that technical education STEM fields, at each age level, girls face challenges
ences as more or less “natural,” not something that something boys are more likely to do. In contrast, is more focused on the interests of boys and imply that tend to undermine their beliefs that they can
is socially conditioned. AnMaleexample of research
Female open questions
Total % Femaleseemed to invite more participation that this may help to explain why more boys than be successful in STEM careers; there is a need for
that comes
African-American close to making this kind
2999 of argument950 by girls,
3949 although the number of such questions
24.1% girls are attracted to technical fields. effective interventions at each level to help girls
is Buser, Peter, and Wolter’s (2017) study of 250 observed was small, so drawing firm conclusions is Jacobs, Ahmad, and Sax (2017) argue that there overcome these challenges. Early on, effective
Hispanic 8535 2368 10903 21.7%
students in Bern, Switzerland. They found that risky. Interestingly, the authors argue that closed is strong evidence that parents’ occupations influ- interventions should target parents, who have
Asian-American 10742
willingness to compete in eighth grade was an 3721 14463 25.7% questions, requiring
questions are lower-order ence children’s major and career choices and that significant influence on the attitudes of younger
NaGveimportant
Americanpredictor of choosing a256 math-intensive 66 the lowest322 level 20.5%of thinking skills, so their use in they do so differently for girls and boys. Using children; for teenagers, summer programs and
Caucasian
specialization 1.5 years later in 52229
Swiss academic12372 classrooms
64601 actually 19.2% impoverishes science teaching. data from a national, longitudinal study of college other school interventions can stimulate girls’
Foreign NaGonal
high schools. The gender 8472
differences they 2376
found in 10848
Therefore, it is 21.9% that a different approach,
possible students in the U.S. between 1976 and 2011 (com- interest in STEM by increasing their exposure to
willingness
Other/unknown/mulG to compete (with boys being
5857 more will-
1778 focused
7635 more on higher-order thinking, would
23.3% prising data on nearly 1 million first-year students), the field and giving them a sense of efficacy; and,
Total ing) accounted for some of the gender
89090 differences
23631 both
112721enhance the teaching of science and promote
21.0% they find that both fathers and mothers affect the all of this needs to be followed up by mentoring
in students’ educational choices. gender equality in classrooms. choices of both sons and daughters. However, sons of female students once they decide to pursue a
are more likely to follow in their fathers' footsteps STEM pathway.
than their mothers', although the role of mothers
has become somewhat more salient for boys. Girls WHY GIRLS DON’T CHOOSE ENGINEERING IN
Engineering Bachelor's Degrees by Gender within Race/ used to be more likely to follow in their fathers’ COLLEGE
footsteps, but, since the 1990s, mothers have been The largest group of articles and papers we
Ethnicity, 2016 more influential. The daughters of engineers are reviewed this year focused on the college years,
much less likely than the sons of engineers to fol- examining why few women choose to enter
Total 89090 23631 low their parents into engineering (although the engineering programs, as well as the gendered
Other/unknown/mulG 5857 1778 daughters of engineers are more likely to choose dynamics of the programs themselves. Much of
engineering than those whose parents are NOT this research winds up showing that what happens
Foreign NaGonal 8472 2376 engineers). As mothers’ influence has grown, it in college is a continuation of processes that began
Caucasian 52229 12372 is likely that daughters of female engineers will earlier in students’ lives (the kinds of processes
grow increasingly likely to choose engineering described in the previous section of this review).
NaGve American 256 66 themselves. The effects of this trend, however, However, there was also an emphasis in this year’s
Asian-American 10742 3721 are muted by the fact that there are still very few literature on the role played by college faculty in
female engineers (thus few mothers to follow into gendering undergraduate education. This is an
Hispanic 8535 2368 engineering) and by the fact that girls’ interest in important direction in research and one that war-
African-American 2999 950 engineering as a profession remains relatively low rants further investigation.
— maternal influence would have to push against Cheryan et al. (2017) provide a framework for
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% this fact. Jacobs et al. do not describe the mecha- understanding the processes by which women are
nisms by which parents influence their children’s steered, or self-select, away from engineering and
Male Female choices, but their research points to the important related disciplines in college. Their meta-analysis
8
Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017
SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 9
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
of the literature on this issue emphasizes that was less important than self-efficacy. Schuster intellectual abilities. All of this predicted women’s in laboratories). Although this is a case study, and
some STEM fields are more gender balanced than and Martiny (2017) found that when stereotypes lower interest in entering these fields. Discourag- not specifically focused on engineering, it suggests
others and points to three major reasons this may were activated in experimental settings, e.g., by ingly, the study found no relation between exposure that direct experience of engineering work may
be the case. First, some fields are characterized by constructing scenarios in which an oral exam was to engineering or computer science and women’s encourage more women to consider it as a career
a masculine culture that signals a lower sense of conducted by a male professor in an obviously stereotypical views of those fields, raising questions (although the Ehrlinger et al. research cited above
Bachelor's degrees awarded, 2016
belonging for women than for men. A second fac- predominantly male context, female German
(Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering EducaCon, 2017)
about whether interventions designed to increase offers a cautionary note).
tor is women’s having insufficient early educational university students anticipated less positive affect, women’s exposure to engineering will do any good Finally, several studies we reviewed take up the
experiences in fields such as Percent engineering, physics,
Frac2on which reduced their interest in entering STEM. (perhaps exposure to female engineers or computer issue of whether women’s self-efficacy is an impor-
Discipline
and computer science. Finally, Women
although Women
they find Total Women
EhrlingerMenet al. (2017) also examined the role of scientists is what is needed?). tant factor shaping their decisions about whether
Mechanical 13.8 0.138 26816 3701 23115
the evidence here to be mixed, they note that stereotypes in shaping interest in engineering and Diekman et al. (2017) review research on a to enter engineering. We have already summarized
Chemical 33.3 0.333 9864 3285 6579
some
Civil researchers have found large gender
24 gaps
0.24 in 11464computer
2751science. Although
8713 this study is based related issue that has been the focus of research Tellhed, Bäckström, and Björklund’s (2017) Swedish
women’s
Biomedical self-efficacy in engineering,41.4 computer
0.414 on
6177 a relatively
2557 small
3620 (fewer than 200 respondents) reviewed in previous years — do males and females research showing that lower self-efficacy in women
science,
Computer and (inside
Science physics and that this 16.4
eng.) explain 13483and unrepresentative
helps to 0.164 2211 11272 sample, it points to the have different beliefs, motives, and goals, and does is a powerful factor explaining their lack of interest
Industrial/Manufacturing
why they don’t choose to enter these 31.8fields.0.318 5649 1796 of stereotypical
persistence 3853 views of engineering this affect their interest in engineering and STEM in STEM. Ehrlinger et al.’s study found that their
Electrical 12.7 0.127 11892 1510 10382
Several studies we reviewed this year provided and their continued role in steering women away careers? Their review finds that research confirms female respondents tended to have less-positive
Other 26.3 0.263 4386 1154 3232
evidence
Computer of the
Science continued
(outside eng.) importance 16.3 of the0.163first 5407from the881 profession.
4526 The researchers asked under- that women have a stronger communal orientation estimates of their intellectual abilities than their
factor identified by Cheryan et al. 12.3
Computer — the masculine
0.123 graduate
5531 students
680 in psychology classes to rate the
4851 than men, and that goal congruity, i.e., aligning male respondents. Johnson and Muse (2017)
Environmental
culture of engineering. Many of these 45.6 examined
0.456 1236 564 member
prototypical 672 of the occupation of engineer careers with their orientation, is an important analyzed a sample of almost 20,000 first-time, first-
Aerospace
the question of whether women feel 14.3they “belong”
0.143 3781 541
and computer 3240
scientist on a series of traits (logical, year students at a research university in the United
determinant of individuals’ career choices.
Metallurgical and Materials 28 0.28 1858 520 1338
in engineering
Electrical/Computer and other math-intensive
15.3 fields
0.153 and, intellectual,
2860 438 social,
2422emotional, etc.) and then to rate Engineering and some other STEM fields do not States. They found that females were more likely
if they don’t, how
Biological and Agriculturalthis affects their willingness
35.3 0.353 to themselves
1160 409 on those
751 traits. In each case, women align well with women’s communal social roles,
enter them.
Engineering Tellhed, Bäckström, and
(general) 29.8Björklund’s
0.298 rated themselves
1338 399 as being less similar to the proto-
939 which helps to explain why few women pursue
Petroleum
(2017) study of more than 1,000 Swedish 16.3 0.163
high 1659 270
typical member 1389
of these occupations than men did; these careers. Diekman et al. emphasize that at-
Civil/Environmental 28.3 0.283 940
school students found that gender differences in women 266also tended674
to have more positive views of tracting more women to engineering is not simply Engineering Degrees
Architectural 32.7 0.327 618 202 416
interest in STEM were related to women’s lower the intellectual abilities of the members of those a matter of “featuring” its communal aspects (as
Engineering Management
degree of belongingness
Eng. Science/Eng. Physics in STEM,
25.3
although
16.8
0.253
this
0.168
506
674
128
occupations,
113 and
378
less
561 positive views of their own some earlier research has suggested). Instead, Awarded, 2016
Nuclear 16.7 0.167 521 87 434 the development of goal congruence is a lengthy
Mining 14.3 0.143 308 44 264 The number of engineering degrees
process that must be sustained; thus, women must
112597 awarded in the United States reached a
also experience goal congruence upon entering
new record in 2016, with a total of 167,593
engineering programs and careers if their choice of
Engineering Bachelor's Degrees by Discipline and Gender, 2016 that direction is to be sustained.
(105,767 bachelor’s degrees; 51,621 mas-
30000
ter’s; and 10,205 doctorates). Engineering
Marrero et al. (2017) describe a program
enrollments and degrees have shown con-
25000 designed to combat the second obstacle Cheryan
tinuous growth since 2000, when 88,026
et al. (2017) identify as an important cause of the
20000 degrees were awarded.
underrepresentation of women in engineering
15000 and related STEM fields: limited exposure. The While the growth in engineering degrees is
program was an effort to recruit more women and dramatic, however, it mirrors the over-
10000 all growth of higher education during
underrepresented minority students to STEM
5000 through an undergraduate program at Mercy Col- the same time. Engineering degrees as a
lege in New York in 2014 and 2015. Participants had percentage of all degrees has fluctuated
0
opportunities to undertake a research experience, between 5 percent and 6 percent for the
including a collaborative field-based research proj- past 20 years.
ect. Analysis of outcomes showed that participants (Data from the National Center for Educa-
regarded science as more fun after completing the tion Statistics as reported by the Ameri-
program and were more likely to see themselves can Society for Engineering Education in
as scientists/researchers. Their perceptions of Prism, January 2018.)
scientists also became more complex and less
Women Men stereotypical (fewer images of unkempt scientists
Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 11
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
than males to self-select into social (education, by Cheryan et al. (2017). Thus, Schuster and Additionally, in an article published in the Journal Several of these studies about faculty members
social sciences, nursing), artistic, or investigative Martiny (2017) find that women experience lower of Engineering Education, Blair, Miller, Ong, and explicitly identified the need for specific tools
(agriculture, biosystems engineering, science, and self-efficacy in STEM, but argue that this alone Zastavker (2017) identify three discourses that pro- to help faculty members enact more inclusive
math) disciplines. Males were more likely to choose does not explain their career choices (anticipated fessors use to construct gender expression and their practices (Beddoes and Panther, 2017; Blosser, 2017;
realistic (architecture, engineering, computer positive affect has an independent effect). Still, it identities as teachers: 1) gender blindness, 2) gender Cross and Cutler, 2017). They revealed that while
science) or enterprising (business, industrial engi- seems reasonable to agree with Cheryan et al. that acknowledgment, and 3) gender intervention. They faculty members may be interested in more inclu-
neering, economics) disciplines. First-generation there is a growing body of research indicating that conclude that professors “most
B.S. Degrees to Women by Discipline, 2016 frequently utilized sive practices, they did not have the knowledge or
status increased the likelihood that males would lower self-efficacy in women, particularly with discourses acknowledging gender inequity, which skills
(Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering necessary
EducaEon, 2017)to enact those practices. As Cutler
choose realistic majors such as engineering; the regard to math and computer skills, is one of the limited their responsibilities to promote equity and and Cross put it, based on their pilot interviews
Discipline Percent Women Frac2on
same was not true for females. Girls who had factors discouraging them from entering fields highlights the pernicious nature of systemic gender with 10 engineering faculty members: “Many of the
Environmental 45.6 0.456
completed calculus were more likely to choose such as engineering. bias”
Biomedical (p. 14). Their interview study was
41.4 conducted
0.414 participants noted a desire to integrate diversity
both realistic and investigative fields; comparable In addition to research examining the charac- with 18 instructors
Biological and Agricultural from three different
35.3 institu-
0.353 and inclusion efforts into their classroom, but were
boys were more likely to choose only realistic teristics of students that shape major choices, we Chemical
tions. Similarly, Beddoes found that33.3 0.333
the discourses not sure of the practical details for implementing
also read several studies that focused on the role of Architectural 32.7 0.327
fields. From a policy perspective, this implies that in which professors engaged when discussing such efforts effectively. Multiple participants
Industrial/Manufacturing 31.8 0.318
efforts to improve girls’ math proficiency alone teachers. This year, we saw articles in the Journal the causes
Engineering General of and solutions to women’s
29.8 under-
0.298 noted a need and desire for diversity and inclusion
will not be enough to increase the numbers of girls of Engineering Education, the European Journal of representation
Civil/Environmental in engineering limited
28.3 the roles
0.283 training that allowed for authentic dialogue and
interested in fields such Engineering Education, that institutional
Metallurgical and Materialspolicies could play 28 in addressing
0.28 practical solutions that could be implemented
as engineering. Johnson Studies in Higher Educa- Other underrepresentation. Beddoes’ study 26.3 0.263
was based in their classroom” (p. 10). Beddoes and Panther
ALL OF THIS REPRESENTS ENCOURAGING Engineering Management 25.3 0.253
and Muse’s analysis shows tion, the International Civil on interviews with 39 professors at three
24 different
0.24 came to a similar conclusion in the context of
that females reported EVIDENCE THAT FEMALE ACADEMICS IN Journal of Learning and institutions from
Eng. Science/Eng. Physics a wide range of engineering
16.8 disci-
0.168 facilitating teamwork specifically and note that an
lower self-efficacy in their STEM FIELDS ARE INCREASINGLY ACTIVE Development, and Engi- plines and introduced “studying up”16.7
Nuclear as methodology
0.167 online training tool (called TARGIT) for inclusive
ability to analyze math neering Studies, as well as Computer Science (inside
for grounding eng.) on faculty and
research 16.4 policies.
0.164 teamwork practices is under development.
RESEARCHERS AND THAT THEIR WORK IS Petroleum 16.3 0.163
and use computing. This ASEE conference papers, Related to
Electrical/Computer
those two studies, Cross and
15.3
Cutler (2017)
0.153
In addition to teachers, other adults may play a
may help to explain why ACHIEVING RECOGNITION. that take faculty mem- found that their interviewees drew a distinction role in steering college students toward or away
Mining 14.3 0.143
math-proficient girls are bers, rather than students, between diversity and inclusion. And14.3
Aerospace while they
0.143 from college majors. Simon, Wagner, and Killion
not more likely to choose careers in engineering as their study population for examining gender in Mechanical
believed that inclusion was within their 13.8 purview
0.138 as
Electrical 12.7 0.127
and computer science, where math and computer undergraduate engineering education (Beddoes, in instructors,
Computer
diversity lay outside of their
12.3
control.
0.123
continued on page 15
skills are regarded as highly important. press; Beddoes and Panther, 2017; Blair et al., 2017; Computer Science (outside eng) 16.3 0.163
Cadaret et al. (2017) analyzed survey data from Blosser, 2017; Cross and Cutler, 2017). This group
a small (211 respondents) sample of undergraduate of studies represents an important development
students majoring in engineering fields. They in the research landscape, moving beyond studies Percent of Bachelor's Degrees Awarded to Women by Discipline, 2016
found that stigma consciousness was a barrier for that focus only on students.
45.6
50
women attempting to study engineering — women For example, in an article published in
41.4
45
who had greater awareness of the stigma associ- Engineering Studies, Blosser (2017) discusses how
35.3
40
33.3
32.7
ated with women studying engineering reported in her interviews with 23 engineering professors
31.8
35
29.8
28.3
28.0
more struggles coping with barriers and lower aca- from different disciplines at one institution, they
26.3
225.3
30
24.0
demic self-efficacy. The authors theorize that this explain women’s underrepresentation by invoking
Percent
25
can lead to lowered academic performance and, gendered images to position some engineering
16.8
16.7
16.4
16.3
16.3
15.3
20
14.3
14.3
13.8
perhaps, to exit from the profession. Although this disciplines as masculine and others as feminine.
12.7
12.3
15
is a small, exploratory study, it supports the view Based on her findings, Blosser recommends a
10
that lower self-efficacy is one of the obstacles keep- change for diversity offices. She suggests that, “To
5
ing women away from engineering and underlines the extent that this is true at other engineering
the importance of systematic efforts to enhance institutions, such offices could focus more on the 0
self-efficacy and combat stereotype threat. ways in which popular ideas about the ‘common g.)
e en
It is important to note that not all of the characteristics’ of women and men often serve to t sid
ou
research we reviewed identifies self-efficacy as a reinforce gender stereotypes in ways that have self- e(
nc
c ie
highly important predictor of major and career fulfilling effects on the way both faculty and their rS
te
pu
choices, reflecting the ongoing debate described students think and behave (pp. 40–41).” C om
12 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
Female Deans and Directors of Engineering Programs in the U.S. continued from page 13
Cammy R. Abernathy, Ph.D., dean Mary C. Boyce, Ph.D., dean, The Fu Liesl Folks, Ph.D., dean of Theresa A. Maldonado, Ph.D., Anca L. Sala, Ph.D., dean, (2017) conducted a study of 6,767
of engineering, University of Foundation School of Engineering engineering, University at Buffalo, P.E., dean of the College of College of Engineering, Baker college students, the majority of
Florida and Applied Science, Columbia the State University of New York Engineering and professor of College whom were STEM majors. The re-
University electrical engineering, The
Stephanie G. Adams, Ph.D., dean Molly M. Gribb, Ph.D., P.E., dean Elaine P. Scott, Ph.D., dean, searchers calculated a Bem sex-role
University of Texas at El Paso
of engineering, Old Dominion JoAnn Browning, Ph.D., P.E., dean of engineering, University of School of STEM, University of inventory (BSRI) score for each re-
University of engineering, The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Charla Miertschin, dean, Washington, Bothell spondent, then asked what careers
Texas at San Antonio College of Science and they had been counseled to pursue
Emily L. Allen, Ph.D., dean of Christine E. Hailey, Ph.D., dean Joyce T. Shirazi, Ph.D., dean,
Engineering, Winona State
engineering, California State Jenna P. Carpenter, Ph.D., dean of of the College of Science and School of Engineering by school counselors and parents.
University
University, Los Angeles engineering, Campbell University Engineering, Texas State University, and Technology, Hampton The results indicated clearly how
San Marcos Nancy Miller, Ph.D., dean, University gender affects what students are
Nada Marie Anid, Ph.D., dean Emily Carter, Ph.D., dean, School
College of Engineering and encouraged to do, although they
of engineering and computing of Engineering and Applied Science, Angela Hare, Ph.D., dean, School Katherine Snyder, Ph.D.,
Computer Science, Grantham also reveal complexity. Males whose
sciences, New York Institute of Princeton University of Science, Engineering and Health, interim dean, College of
University
Technology
Tina Choe, Ph.D., dean of the Frank
Messiah College Engineering and Science, BSRI scores indicated high mascu-
Jayathi Y. Murthy, Ph.D., University of Detroit Mercy linity and low femininity were not
Nadine N. Aubry, Ph.D., dean R. Seaver College of Science and Wendi Beth Heinzelman, Ph.D.,
dean of the Henry Samueli more likely to be steered toward
of engineering, Northeastern Engineering, Loyola Marymount dean of Engineering, University of T. Kyle Vanderlick, Ph.D.,
School of Engineering and STEM; instead, they were encour-
University University Rochester dean and Thomas E. Golden
Applied Science, University
Professor, Yale University aged to pursue careers in business,
M. Katherine Banks, Ph.D., P.E., Robin Coger, Ph.D., dean of Martha Hogan, Ph.D., dean of of California, Los Angeles
dean of engineering and vice engineering, North Carolina A&T Engineering, Richland College Sharon Walker, Ph.D., law, politics, or sport. It was males
Hallie Neupert, dean, whose BSRI scores reflected low
chancellor, Texas A&M University State University interim dean, engineering,
Elke Howe, Ed.D., chair, engineering College of Engineering,
University of California, masculinity and high femininity
Gilda A. Barabino, Ph.D., dean, The Jennifer Sinclair Curtis, Ph.D., dean, technology, Missouri Southern Technology and Management,
Riverside who were most likely to be steered
Grove School of Engineering, City College of Engineering, University State University Oregon Institute of
College of the City University of of California, Davis Jennifer Widom, Ph.D.,
toward STEM. Unsurprisingly,
Brig. Gen. Cindy Jebb, dean, Technology
New York dean, School of Engineering, females whose BSRI scores reflected
Teresa A. Dahlberg, Ph.D., dean, Academic Board, U.S. Military Elizabeth Jane Orwin, low masculinity and high feminin-
and professor, Stanford
Susamma Barua, Ph.D., interim College of Engineering and Academy Ph.D., professor and chair,
University ity were unlikely to be steered
dean, California State University, Computer Science, Syracuse department of engineering,
Sharon A. Jones, Ph.D., P.E., dean toward STEM. Only females
Fullerton University Harvey Mudd College Sharon L. Wood, Ph.D., P.E.,
of the Shiley School of Engineering, whose BSRI scores indicated high
dean of engineering, The
Stella N. Batalama, Ph.D., dean, Marie D. Dahleh, Ph.D., chair, University of Portland Sarah A. Rajala, Ph.D., dean masculinity and low femininity
University of Texas at Austin
College of Engineering and engineering, math, and computer of engineering, Iowa State
Maria V. Kalevitch, Ph.D., professor were encouraged to pursue STEM
Computer Science, Florida Atlantic science, Aurora University University Judy Wornat, Sc.D., dean,
and dean, School of Engineering, careers. This research suggests
University College of Engineering,
Natacha DePaola, Ph.D., dean of Mathematics, and Science, Robert Mary Rezac, Ph.D., dean, that it is not the sex of the student
Louisiana State University
Gail Baura, Ph.D., director of engineering, Illinois Institute of Morris University College of Engineering and (are they a man or a woman?) but
engineering science and professor, Technology Architecture, Washington Sharon Zelmanowitz, Ph.D., gender (behavioral manifestations
Anette M Karlsson, Ph.D.,
Loyola University Chicago State University P.E., dean of engineering, U.S.
Doreen D. Edwards, Ph.D., professor and dean of engineering, of conventional masculinity or
Coast Guard Academy
Macia C. Belcher, P.E., department dean, Kate Gleason College of Cleveland State University Kristina M. Ropella, Ph.D., femininity) that affects how adults
chair, engineering and science Engineering, Rochester Institute of Opus Dean, Marquette Jean Zu, Ph.D., P.Eng., counsel students about their future
Laura W. Lackey, Ph.D., P.E.,
technology, The University of Akron Technology University dean, Schaefer School of directions. This is a case study of
interim dean and professor of
Engineering and Science,
Stacy G. Birmingham, Ph.D., Julie R. Ellis, Ph.D., P.E., professor environmental engineering, School Julia M. Ross, Ph.D., dean, one institution, and the sample was
Stevens Institute of
professor and dean, science, and department head, Western of Engineering, Mercer University College of Engineering, not representative of the national
Technology
engineering, and mathematics, Kentucky University Virginia Tech student population. Nevertheless,
JoAnn S. Lighty, Ph.D., dean of
Grove City College it points to an important issue
Jacqueline A. El-Sayed, Ph.D., vice engineering, Boise State University Michelle B. Sabick, Ph.D.,
Barbara D. Boyan, Ph.D., president for academic affairs, dean, Parks College of for future research: How does
Elizabeth Loboa, Ph.D., dean of
dean of engineering, Virginia Marygrove College
engineering, University of Missouri Engineering, Aviation and perceived gender and the presenta-
Commonwealth University Technology, Saint Louis tion of gender affect women’s
Elizabeth A. Eschenbach, Ph.D.,
professor and department chair, University experiences with engineering and
Humboldt State University STEM, an issue also addressed in a
14 SWE RESEARCH
STATE OF WOMEN
2018 IN ENGINEERING 2018 SWE STATE OF WOMEN
SWE STATE
IN ENGINEERING
OF WOMEN 2018 15
2017 LITERATURE REVIEW 2017 LITERATURE REVIEW
different context in the article by Alfrey and Twine Interestingly, among STEM disciplines, female helping people, improving the world, solving social embrace alternative definitions of what engineer-
(2017), discussed below. engineering students were more likely to enter a problems, etc. Prietl (2017) conducted
Engineering Faculty by Discipline and Gender, 2016 a small, ing practice should mean.
STEM job than majors in the biological and physi- (Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for EngineeringBlair-Loy
interview-based study with 16 engineers (four of EducaDon, and
2017)Cech (2017) report on a very
THE WORKPLACE cal sciences. whom were women) employed in the “alternative interesting investigation of the issue of “overload”
In past reviews, we have bemoaned the remark- Fernandez and Campero (2017) analyzed job Discipline
energy” sector in Germany Total
andFaculty Frac2on
Austria that Women among
shows Womenwomen Menresearchers and professionals in
Mechanical 4840 0.126 610 4230
able shortage of significant, well-conducted openings advertised by 441 small and medium- how difficult this sort of presentation may be to science and technology industries. Overload has
Electrical/Computer 4206 0.124 522 3684
studies of engineering workplaces, particularly sized firms in the technology sector between Computerachieve.
ScienceAlthough
(inside eng.)the alternative energy
2557 sector long been
0.171 437identified
2120as a problem for female pro-
nonacademic workplaces. This year, happily, March 2008 and April 2012 (with more than Civil is widely seen as “altruistic” (and sometimes
2312 fessionals,
0.184 425 including
1887 engineers, and the suspicion
we reviewed several articles that consider what 250,000 applicants involved). Their goal was to Chemicalfeminine), she found that engineers1989 employed in 0.183 has long364
been that this may be a factor pushing
1625
happens to engineering graduates after they leave discover whether the underrepresentation of Biomedical
this sector tended to play down the 1646 alternative 0.223 367 out1279
some women of the engineering workforce.
Other 1567
school. There remain many gaps in this literature, women, particularly at the higher levels, was the characteristics of their work and to emphasize that 0.18
Blair-Loy282
and Cech 1285
find that a “work devotion
Electrical 1289 0.133 171 1118
one of which we emphasize in the conclusion to result of the workings of promotion processes they were doing mainstream,
Computer Science (outside eng.) professional
1115 engi- schema”
0.143 is
159 widespread
956 in science and technology
this review. Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see within companies or reflected something about the neering work.
Industrial/Manufacturing They largely rejected more
1071 romantic —
0.196 undivided
210 devotion
861 to work is defined, by many,
more researchers examining the dynamics of en- external hiring process. They found that the key notions
Civil/Environmentalof how one should interact with
1049 nature, as
0.201 a valued
211 end. Women
838 who embrace this schema
gineering labor markets and engineers’ workplace was the small numbers of female candidates for Metallurgical and Materials
stressing 1013
instead that engineering interacts with 0.172 are much 174
less likely839to experience overload, even
experiences. positions, particularly as one rises up the hierarchy. Aerospace
nature as a resource. Despite the sector’s 711 appear- 0.098 70
when compared to641
others who have similar work
Engineering (general) 595 0.328 195 400
Previous researchers have devoted attention While there was some, limited evidence of bias in ance as alternative, women were underrepresented and family conditions but embrace the schema
Biological and Agricultural 458 0.205 94 364
to the transition from college to engineering screening, Fernandez and Campero conclude that in the
Eng. Science andengineering
Eng.Physics labor force in these fields. In
339 less. The 42
0.124 work devotion
297 schema appears to be a
employment. The percentage of engineering the real problem is supply — there are relatively Computerother words, there is no simple correspondence
302 powerful
0.162 force
49 making
253 intensive work demands
graduates who are female has typically exceeded few female internal applicants for senior positions, between the public perception of a field
Environmental 178 as more seem reasonable
0.275 49 and
129 manageable. However, the
the percentages of women in the engineering labor and external searches similarly turn up relatively Petroleum
altruistic or communal and its attractiveness 164 to 0.134
schema is22less effective
142 for mothers of young
Engineering Management 161
force, so the focus has been on understanding the few female candidates. They argue that efforts to female engineers. Similarly, engineers (including 0.211 34 127
Nuclear 159 0.113 18 141
“leak” in the pipeline from school to work. We did increase the numbers of women in senior posi- women) employed in these sectors do123
Architectural not appear to 0.195continued 24
on page 20 99
not review any studies of this leaky pipeline issue tions, thus, should focus on increasing the supply Mining 63 0.143 9 54
this year. However, two studies considered whether of applicants, not simply on combating bias in 27907
there are barriers to women’s entry into engineer- screening.
ing and technical employment. What happens when women succeed in achiev- 6000
Sassler et al. (2017) analyzed data from the ing managerial roles in engineering? One study we Engineering Faculty by Discipline and Gender, 2016
1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth; this reviewed concludes that it may have unintended 5000
represents the first NLSY cohort in which women consequences that strengthen the gendered
were more likely than men to complete a univer- character of technical engineering. Cardador (2017)
4000
sity degree. The researchers were interested in interviewed 61 engineers who were the alumni of
particular in determining whether women’s family an undergraduate engineering program in the U.S.
3000
expectations or career orientation affected the The study found that the movement into manage-
probability of their successfully making the transi- ment by women was in some ways negative. The
tion to STEM employment. Their results did not women themselves had weaker identifications with 2000
show any relationship of this type: Women with engineering (some did not consider themselves
stronger family plans were no less likely to enter to be real engineers). As more women became 1000
STEM jobs than those with a stronger career ori- managers, a kind of gendered occupational segre-
entation. Career-oriented men, however, were more gation developed, with technical roles being seen 0
likely to enter STEM employment. The authors see as masculine and, simultaneously, valued more
ic s
evidence of employer bias here — men appear to highly. Ironically, then, women’s upward mobility
ys
Ph
be rewarded for a strong career commitment while in engineering made engineering seem more male.
g.
En
d
women with similar career orientations are not. Another theme in the existing literature on
an
e
nc
Despite this, the authors conclude that the most women in engineering is the potential importance
ie
Sc
important reason for the underrepresentation (both for recruitment and retention) of presenting
g.
En
of women in STEM employment is the under- engineering as a more socially oriented profession
representation of women in STEM disciplines. in which practitioners could feel that they were Women Men
16 SWE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING 2018 Source: Yoder, Engineering by the Numbers, American Society for Engineering Education, 2017You can also read
