thoughts on being a woman engineer leading other engineers

[spacefem]

ironphoenix asked: Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share that are particular to being a woman managing an engineering group?Awkward hard question because I don't like to think about that much, and was really scared to write about it, so this entry might get rambly and not make tons of sense. As engineers we all tend to say "it is what it is" and

Comments

[lepid0ptera]

It's an interesting observation that you dealt with a lot more at a lower level- do you think it's related to your rising status, or just that things have gotten better for women in general over time? Or both

[lavenderspark]

That would be a great thing to put into HS. Even as an elective.

When I was in HS we could take Computer Programming and it counted as a math credit. Sadly when I tried to sign up for it, the counselor told me to take precalc instead. I've always felt it was because I'm female, but I really don't know.

[lepid0ptera]

The U.K. just introduced it into its curriculum for this year! https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study

I'm pretty excited :). My high school was really good but we didn't have CS classes. My first introduction to CS was in college, and it really threw me for a loop (literally! and figuratively!). I licked my wounds and ended up graduating with a degree in biology- I made my way back into programming but it would have cut to the chase in my career path if only I'd been introduced to it earlier.

[spacefem]

that's a good question. it's probably half and half... partially that I HAVE proven myself to enough people that people don't question me, partially the position I'm in (we tend to not want to offend people higher on the org chart), and now that I think about it there are a lot more women in my department now than there were 12 years ago when I started.

[lavenderspark]

I really hope things are changing. I feel like with the way the internet has gone lately, it's easier to see that women CAN do more than society would have us believe. But changing the way people think and act is harder.

[hardblue]

I think it is worth remembering, too, that even back in the day before women and minorities were being considered for these higher positions that politics was still a factor in promotions and hirings - a son-in-law might win a spot, for example, that another person might have filled just as well, or maybe it was just someone that was greater friend-material. Life has never been a pure 'meritocracy'. We're not that cold-blooded. Social factors have always been important - politics.

[astrogeek01]

Interesting you feel that the pushback has gotten lesser as you've gone up; in academia it seems like it's worse. Though maybe each level you go up you're back at the bottom again until you work your way up? I guess I've never gotten to the point where I'm at the top of the local hierarchy. Hmm.

[dichroic]

Good post. I may point a colleague over here.