Men/Women Staying in Engr, maybe we're the fools 10

[possumk]

As people touched on in their responses to the male:female make-up of engineering departments, the men significantly outnumber the females. Many noted that even women who start in engineering often move to other business areas.

Here's my question: So what? What's so superior about engineering compared to other career choices women or men may make? Why should we care that women (or men) don't want to be engineers?

I think we engineers tend to have a bit of a superiority complex about our profession. We tell ourselves that kids who transfer to the college of business just couldn't hack engineering. Is it possible that they realized they could make more money doing something else they enjoyed more? I'm as anti-BA in Psychology as any engineer, and really hate to read those people's posts on Monster.com, whining that they're unemployed. However, if you are smart enough to be an engineer, there are a lot of financially lucrative jobs that you could do.

So, why SHOULD we become & stay engineers?

 

[doberdorks]

A look through other threads and other websites will tell you that yes, in fact, some prejudices and mistreatment do still exist. This may not tell the full story of the disproportion but it is part of it, which is why disproportion still bears looking at.

Actually, I think the problem isn't ENGINEERING. I don't see a significantly higher percentage of women in Physics, chemisty, or computer science. The problem I've seen is high school counsellors who tell grad 10 girls "don't take all 3 sciences, that's too hard".

 

[Gymmeh]

doberdorks, Nice!!

My highschool counsellors had all the girls going for ART!

 

[Twoballcane]

Hmmm...so what was the difference with the girls who did go into engineering? Did they not listen to their guidence counsellors? Maybe their decision started at home with the parents. Many parents inadvertently steer their daughters away from math and sciences.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[Gymmeh]

Maybe it was in was that toys they bought their kids, legos, K-nec's, Erector sets, play dough, etc.

 

[nicolef]

In high school (small community, 35 in my graduating class) there were 4 of us who petitioned the school board to get additional advanced math/science classes available(e.g. level 2 calc, trig/stat, chem 2). Luckily, the teachers were willing to give up their 'prep' periods to teach us.
I'm thankful that we had parental support in petitioning the school board. I had great support from my parents, they wanted me to be challenged and not bored in school.
Also, we did not listen to the guidance counselor or the principal-otherwise we would have been in gym class and study hall. It was a fight, but well worthwile.
Of the 4 of us: a chem eng, pharmacist, advanced radiology technologist, nuclear med technologist.

oh yeah, I played with lots of legos and created lots of chemistry experiments in mom's kitchen

 

[Twoballcane]

Way to go nicolef! I have daughters and my wife and I make sure that they have a healthy respect for math and sciences.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[RDK]

Picking a career is a lot like picking a suit.

Some fit better than others and a perfectly good suit may not be right for some people.

If you find you are wearing a suit that does not fit or is not right for you then change it. If it fits and is right for you then keep wearing it.

Personally my career has been a succession of engineering suits. I have had multiple assignments in the profession from design to operations and construction management. I have tried on other professional suits in a couple management assignments and found they also were a good fit, just were missing some of the satisfaction that I find in construction management.


We cannot all be the same, IMHO the secret to happiness is finding your niche in life and not envying about the other guy too much.



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com