Women in engineering: Closing the GAP
ENGINEERING is an exciting field for anyone who is curious about how things work and likes to solve problems, regardless of their own genetic make-up. Yet, despite women being more than half of the global workforce, they continue to be under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. Only about 28 per cent of scientific researchers globally are women, according to UNESCO.
There is great disparity among some territories, with countries like Japan having only five per cent female engineers compared to 19 per cent in Canada, Germany, and the USA; but the figures remain consistently low in most countries around the world. As such, International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated on June 23 every year with the intention of raising the profile of women in engineering, and focusing attention on the career opportunities available to women and girls in this industry.
Dr Therese Chambers, professional engineer, certified energy manager, is an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and she says just about one or two of every 10 students who enrol in engineering programmes there are women.
“Engineering is still a male-dominated field as over the years there has been no real pattern of growth in the number of female students,” she shared with All Woman. “Female students still account for no more than 15 per cent of the enrolment rate. The electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering fields have generally had about a 10 per cent rate, while in chemical and civil engineering, the enrolment rates exceed 15 per cent.”
Dr Chambers cited a fear and avoidance of mathematics, as well as economic reasons, as two likely deterrents for girls who would otherwise consider careers in the field.
“The maths teachers I had in high school made maths exciting for me (Mr Earl Bertram at Westwood High and Mr Richard Silvera at St Jago High), but there are girls who still fear maths and so stay away from fields of study involving the use of maths and physics,” she lamented.
“Also, the cost of studying engineering can be seen as a deterrent, but there have been improvements in the number of scholarships available. That has helped to attract more students,” she added.
Despite these and other push factors, however, Dr Chambers, who has worked in the field for several decades, encouraged more girls to seek out engineering careers if they believe they have a knack for it.
“Engineers are problem solvers,” she said. “We do this through troubleshooting, study, and design. So being able to see your practical solutions positively affecting the lives of people is extremely attractive.”
She had this word of advice for girls and young women who may be considering careers in the field: “Ensure that you prepare by doing the required subjects at CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate] and CAPE [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination], as many have made wrong assumptions and have had to spend an extra year matriculating, and this can be demotivating,” she said. “Attend career sessions and open days and find a female engineer to talk to. We love to see, encourage, and mentor our young women. As an engineering student, you will have to spend a lot of time studying, but this is a rewarding field, so embrace all the experiences and opportunities made available to you.”
In observance of International Women in Engineering Day, All Woman spoke with several Jamaican women in engineering who stepped bravely onto the path less travelled and are helping to pave the way for other women to follow. We share their experiences, and their recommendations for girls and women who want to become engineers.
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