May 13, 2024 

“There is no demand for women engineers, as such, as there are for women doctors; but there's always a demand for anyone who can do a good piece of work,” says Edith Clarke, the first successful woman engineer. This quote reminds me of the first time I thought about wanting to become an engineer. It had all the qualities that demonstrated who I was: creative, innovative, unique. I’ve dreamt about a different future for myself every year-- once I wanted to become a doctor but I didn’t like blood or hospitals. Another time I wanted to become an architect, but I just didn't want to be stuck working with buildings. I even liked business. But it just didn't spark my interest for long. Engineering was the only field that I felt my true passion lay. It was everything that defined me! But the fear of becoming a part of a field that won’t respect me or treat me unfairly for being a woman always will make me hesitate. 

According to the society of women engineers, “In the 1990's women represented nine percent of the individuals working in architecture and engineering. By 2023, the percentage of women professionals in those fields had grown to 16.7 percent, but they are still underrepresented compared to their male counterparts.” Yes, more women are becoming a part of the engineering field, but what's the point if they are not even respected for their work if they are not given the recognition that they deserve?

According to Market Watch, “Although the nation requires a technologically skilled and creative workforce to compete in global markets, approximately one-third of women entering engineering education programs leave the profession to pursue other careers.” There's many successful women engineers from Edith Clarke to Hedy Lamarr to Emily Roebling but do we know about them? Their Inventions? The clear answer is No. At least not the way we know about Nikola Tesla (invented electricity) or Thomas Edison (invented light bulb), or Henry Ford (invented assembly line), or even Alexander Graham Bell (invented telephone). The only difference amongst all these people is their gender. 

The issue isn't that women find engineering hard and that's why they leave the field. The issue is that they don't want to stay in a field where they are not respected or treated fairly. A woman's effort has always been disregarded in the engineering field. I mean why would they want to be in a profession where they hold no value. The dominance of men in the engineering field has always been clear but the disrespect and judgment a woman gets for wanting to pursue in the same field is absurd. Why aren't women valued enough in the engineering field? Why aren’t they given credit for their hard work? 

As a woman who hopes to pursue mechanical engineering, I know the struggle will be real. I know what’s coming my way—the critical looks, the condescending remarks, all because I'll be one of the few women in a male-dominated field. This will be difficult, but I know my passion for engineering will outweigh the challenge of facing scrutiny.

The biggest misconception about mechanical engineering is that it doesn’t suit women and it's made for men, which is completely false. Because these misconceptions exist, most women tend to avoid being a part of the field. Women are entering a field where they are treated like failures, as if they chose the wrong career. 

Schools need to prepare women who see a future in engineering. It's important that women get the proper encouragement to boost their confidence in a field where men are dominating. By creating mentorship programs, awareness campaigns, or changes in curriculum women will feel empowered to do better. We need to inspire young women to follow their passion of engineering and become part of a change. Although most people say that women are respected and being seen in STEM fields, the truth is women have always been underrepresented and are still  inclined to doubt their capabilities. One piece of advice I learned from my peers is to never doubt your capabilities, especially before you put in the effort. Don't stop pursuing what you were meant for just because others may not praise or credit you; you should know your worth. Gender inequality does exist and only we can rise above it to eradicate these flaws that exist within our society. Only we can create the change that we want to see in our world.