Women in Engineering

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Women in Engineering
University of Arkansas, A. Elshabini

• Observation Throughout history, the Engineering
  field has been male dominated. It was not
  foreseen as a career for women. Yet, women are
  becoming more integrated into the Engineering
  field. Although this integration continues to
  grow, a lack of female participation in the
  Engineering field in general, and Electrical
  Engineering in particular continues to be very
  apparent.
• Question Why Women Drop out or not consider
  Engineering?
• It is seen as a male-dominated environment, I
  am needing socialization and mentoring.

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Finding their way, by J.J. Thompson, March 2000,
PrismWomen in engineering education still face
considerable obstacles in a field overwhelmingly
dominated by men, according to a new ASEE survey.

• If you have considered leaving academia, what are
  the reasons?
• total number responding 191
• respondents could choose more than one answer

62 of the respondents indicated that they have
considered leaving academia
3
Are you delaying (or have you delayed) having a
family to advance your career?

4
How often have you experienced discrimination as
a female professor?

5
How important was the encouragement of high
school/college counselors in your decision to
enter engineering?

6
How difficult is it to balance work and family?

7
What are your primary concerns in trying to
balance work and family?

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Role of Educators

• Awareness of Engineering Field in general and
  Electrical Engineering Discipline in
  particular.
• Provision of Guidance and Mentoring to complete
  the program successfully, meaning having a
  positive experience in the education opportunity.
• Provision of Opportunities for advancements and
  involvement to encourage women to pursue advanced
  degrees.
• Incorporation and Integration of women into the
  educational systems as teachers, instructors,
  professors, and role models.

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Awareness of Engineering Field

• Clarification and Education
• nature of profession - basics and fundamentals -
  career and opportunities.
• Vehicles/Tools
• workshops - summer internships - flyer/brochure
  - seminars - web page - visits to academic
  institutions.
• Learn more about women listen
• student questionnaire (18 questions).
• Target Audience
• high school students - freshmen in college -
  counselors.

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1999 data

• Figure 49 - Undergraduate diversity
• Asian 85
• African American 96
• Foreign 137
• Hispanic 27
• Native American 21
• White 1155

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1999 data Figure 50 - undergraduate female
enrollment by year

• 1986 12.1
• 1987 11.6
• 1988 12.5
• 1989 12.3
• 1990 12.4
• 1991 14.6
• 1992 13.9

• 1993 15.5
• 1994 15
• 1995 15.5
• 1996 15.6
• 1997 16.5
• 1998 16.8
• 1999 17.4

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1999 data

• Figure 66 a) gender for graduate students b)
  citizenship of graduate students
• a) gender b) citizenship
• Male 80.8 U.S. 63.1
• Female 19.2 Non-U.S. 36.9

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1999 data

• Figure 52 for 1999
• Male Female
• Asian 61 24
• African American 58 38
• Foreign 115 22
• Hispanic 21 6
• Native American 15 6
• White 986 169

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Results of Survey (51 schools)

• 95 are females currently considering or pursuing
  a major in Engineering.
• Out of these women, 75 are white, 6
  African-American, 13 Far East, 5 Hispanic, and
  2 American-Indian.
• 77 are very serious considering a major in
  Engineering.

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Results of Survey

• 92 of these women are confident that Engineering
  is a right major for them, 5 are slightly
  confident.
• 77 of women made their personal decision to
  major in Engineering prior to college, and about
  22 during freshman-sophomore years.
• A sizeable seriously consider leaving
  Engineering in some academic level (27 freshman,
  32 sophomore, 21 junior, and 10 senior).

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Results of Survey

• Self confidence increased in Math abilities
  (58 increase, 16 stayed the same, and 26
  decreased).
• Self confidence increased in Science abilities
  (60 increase, 14 stayed the same, and 20
  decreased).
• Self confidence increased in Engineering
  abilities (75 increase, 14 stayed the same, and
  12 decreased).

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Results of Survey

• 48 male mentor, 20 female mentor, 36 no
  mentor.
• Greatest influence on decision about education?
  39 mother, 42 father.
• 28 - 30 of these parents finished 4 year
  college, 18 finished M.S. degree.
• These parents have held many jobs, 50 Math or
  Science teacher.

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Results of Survey

• Most significant source of encouragement, 30
  family.
• Most significant source of discouragement, 20
  amount of time required for engineering
  courses, and later concern about family and job
  demand.
• For Mentoring
• 65 definitely will encourage other women in
  engineering, and 92 probably will.

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