Women in Science and Engineering Survey: A Snapshot of the Results

The contributors to our survey represent a diverse group of female scientists and engineers: There are entries from mechanical, chemical, civil, nuclear, environmental, construction and software engineers; from geologists, mathematicians, chemists, biologists, physicists and astronomers; from researchers and teachers; from employees of the government, non-profit organizations and industry. The age of the contributors ranges from graduate students in their mid-twenties to professionals in their late fifties or sixties.

Contributors who were educated and trained in the 1950s and 1960s recall a difficult environment for women scientists and engineers: “In high school and college (in the '50s) women were mostly groomed to be wives and mothers; perhaps working as teachers or nurses until then. However, I always did well in science and thought this was a profession in which I could support myself (I was a scholarship student from a poor family).” (# 97)

A mechanical engineer who graduated in 1962 remembers: “During the four years that I attended Va. Tech I was the only female student in Mechanical Engineering. There were six female students majoring in engineering in my class. Three of us graduated on time.” (# 54)

She vividly remembers the prejudices against women like herself: “My freshman year I had several professors who didn't think I was ‘tough enough’ to be an engineer. They told rotten jokes in class and tried to get me to quit.” But she persisted, and “was definitely tough enough to not let them drive me out of class.”

Perseverance is a recurrent theme in the entries. A female astronomer recalls that the discouragement that she faced in graduate school in the 1960s was almost universal. ”And since this was almost universal it was easy to ignore.” She adds, “Things are getting better. The younger men don't look at women the same way as their fathers did. I'm sure it has something to do with society in general and the fact that their mothers worked.” (#109)

Some of the entries from younger women reflect this change: “Yes. I was a geek,” writes an anonymous contributor in her mid thirties. “I figured science was my thing. No one told me otherwise. I did notice that in the advanced courses in high school, it was mostly girls in the class. My parents expected me to go to college (Asians do that). My high school biology teacher did warn me that biochemistry as a profession could be boring as she was one. Being a tech is tedious. That was when I decided to get an advanced degree.” (#132)

Many of contributors come from families of scientists and engineers who actively encouraged them to pursue careers in the same fields. An engineer recalls: “Yes, my father was a very strong proponent of engineering. Of course, he was an engineer, too. Both my brother and I were equally encouraged to pursue engineering. My father actively involved us in all sorts of activities including ham radio, radio controlled airplanes and other ‘geeky’ math quizzes and questions. By the time I entered college, the only unknown was what discipline of engineering that I would pursue.” (#48)

While most contributors acknowledge the considerable improvements for women scientists and engineers over the past three decades, they point to the persistent obstacles and challenges for women in these fields. There is the “glass ceiling.”(#78) And combining their work and raising a family remains a challenge for many women: “I feel it is very difficult to have a career and a family because of the lack of time allotted to each. To be successful in the industry requires much overtime to "prove" you are committed to the project/company. This is the same time that is taken away from your family.“(#86) Here, again, a generational difference is apparent: While many of the women over 50 write that they don’t have children, younger women feel more encouraged to raise children while pursuing their careers.

Many of contributors come from families of scientists and engineers, who actively encouraged them to pursue careers in the same fields. An engineer recalls: "Yes, my father was a very strong proponent of engineering. Of course, he was an engineer, too. Both my brother and I were equally encouraged to pursue engineering. My father actively involved us in all sorts of activities including ham radio, radio controlled airplanes and other "geeky" math quizzes and questions. By the time I entered college, the only unknown was what discipline of engineering that I would pursue" (#48).

While most contributors acknowledge the considerable improvements for women scientists and engineers over the past three decades, they point to the persistent obstacles and challenges for women in these fields. There is the "glass ceiling."(#78) And combining their work and raising a family remains a challenge for many women: "I feel it is very difficult to have a career and a family because of the lack of time allotted to each. To be successful in the industry requires much overtime to "prove" you are committed to the project/company. This is the same time that is taken away from your family"(#86). Here, again, a generational difference is apparent: While many of the women over 50 write that they don't have children, younger women feel more encouraged to raise children while pursuing their careers.

For many women, networks, such as AWIS, SWE or AWG, proved to be crucial sources of support and encouragement: “Women networks saved my career,” writes an engineer. (#48) Other women did not have access to networks, or they said networks were not that important to them. (#109)

Unanimously, all contributors encourage young women to “go for it,” “be assertive,” and “don’t be intimidated.” A retired scientists adds: “I'm sure it is easier today than it was nearly 50 years ago when I started college.” (#97)

Last updated August 5, 2004