Female Undergraduate Engineering Major Experiences and Perspectives: Going Beyond Just Getting Them In

• In Event: Gender and the STEM Fields

Abstract

This case study investigates the factors influencing the choice of 27 undergraduate female students to pursue degrees in engineering and describes gender-related issues they have encountered during their time in the major. Many students identified at least one engineering professional within their family circle who influenced their decision to pursue the major. A significant number of female students in this study described instances in which male peers suggested limited roles for them in laboratory situations. Insights related to the female students’ experiences in laboratory situations and their interactions with other students calls into question the extent to which females are prepared to counter gender-based biases while pursuing engineering degrees.

Author

• Diane H. Silva Pimentel, University of New Hampshire