Less than 16% of Computer, Electrical, and Aerospace Engineering Degrees are awarded to Women Today.
But firsts, the numbers:
Computer Engineering: 15.4%
Electrical Engineering: 15.5%
Aerospace Engineering: 15.9%
In 2022, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and aerospace engineering were the three least gender diverse engineering degrees in America.[1] Across all engineering fields, women are currently earning only 22.5% of bachelor’s degrees.[2]
When I attended UCLA in the early 2000s, my aerospace engineering program rostered an “abundance” of woman at nearly 20%. Still below the average for engineering at large today, but when you’re in an 8AM Fluid Dynamics class with 20 students, and it really does make a difference to see 3 other women rather than the national average of 2.
I dream of seeing women earning 50% of all engineer degrees. (Shout out to Biomedical and Environmental Engineering that are at or above 50%!)
Why does growing women in engineering matter?
STEM careers serve the individual and our society on a macro scale.
As Science Education noted, “the loss of many women from the STEM sector harms the entire nation, as the demand for STEM professionals exceeds the supply.” We need all the smart minds we can get to tackle the “grand challenge” we all face, including clean energy, advance in medicine, and stewardship of natural resources.[3]
Engineering careers also offer the individual an engaging and financially lucrative career. Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in engineering instantly have potential to earn six-figure salaries. Image how the gender pay gap could be impacted by more women opting for those roles.
Focusing in on our three least gender diverse degrees again, and thanks to salary.com for the data…
Entry Level Salary in the United States by Degree
Computer Engineering, $102,908
Electrical Engineering, $84,366
Aerospace Engineering, $80,102
Growing women in engineering to 50% will not be a single surge effort. This will take time and deliberate effort.
What are the next steps?
How might we inspire one more girl to choose engineering, and then another…? There are many “leaks in the pipeline” of women in STEM careers. In childhood, high school years, college years, and even after entering STEM careers, women face continuous societal obstacles.
Today, I’m offering 3 simple steps for the first leaky joint – encouraging primary school girls to find joy in their math abilities.
Step 1: Do Your Homework
Get knowledgeable on the gaps. The SWE State of Women in Engineering 2023, “Women in Engineering: A Review of the 2022 Literature” is a great overview of the more than 200 publications and conference papers published last year on this very topic.[4] Peruse the summary, and if a certain research paper jumps out at you, go deeper.
Quick Start: Check out what happened when Participants viewed vignettes in which male and female groups received unequal amounts of science supplies.[5]
Step 2: Focus on Confidence
Recognize and celebrate that girls ARE skilled in math. Research continually confirms this. The gap is in girl’s confidence in math. It is a subtle but critical difference. And it’s actionable! How might you champion girl’s ability in math?
Quick Start: Check out Minds of Wonder’s top 10 ways to build math confidence in your daughter. Sneak preview:
1. Speak Positively about Maths
5. Play Games
8. Look at Patterns
Step 3: Elevate Stories of Women in STEM Today
Share stories of women who are in engineering. Perception (currently founded in fact) that engineering is male dominated can be a deterrent. If girls can’t see themselves in STEM, they are far less likely to aspire to it.
Quick Start:
Allies, if you know a woman in STEM who’s rocking in, tell people! Shout it from the rooftops.
If you are a Woman in STEM, find ways to share your story broadly – Schools visits are a great way to start.
Still not sure where to start? I am going to be posting brief articles celebrating women and moms in STEM. If you are interested in learning more, leave a comment with the word ELEVATE, and I will reach out directly to discuss more!
References
1. American Society for Engineering Education. (2022). Engineering and Engineering Technology by the Numbers 2021. Washington, DC
2. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2022). Digest of Education Statistics, Table 318.30. Bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by sex of student and discipline division: 2019-2020, available at www.NCES.ed.gov.
3. Science Education, Sadler, et al. (2012). Stability and Volatility of STEM Career Interest in High School: A Gender Study, available at https://www.academia.edu/.
4. Society of Women Engineers (SWE) State of Women in Engineering 2023 Report. (2023). Women in Engineering: A Review of the 2022 Literature, available at https://magazine.swe.org/lit-review-23/.
5. Sims, et al. (2022). Science resource inequalities viewed as less wrong when girls are disadvantaged, available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sode.12629.
