Across the world, just like in the United States, there is currently a clamorous demand for engineers.
In the U.S. alone, the number of students interested in pursuing an engineering degree in college has doubled over the past decade, according to nsf.gov.
In mechanical engineering, there is an explosion of demand as countries and corporations thirst for innovative, creative solutions and innovations that affect all facets of human life.
The subjects engineers work in include everything from structures to transportation; medical applications to communications technology; and ocean exploration to conquering the vast mysteries of outer space. Impacts of mechanical engineering are limited only by the human imagination.
Engineers are avowed for their astuteness, problem-solving skills and creativity in complex innovative solutions.
However, despite all those shiny, life-impacting facts, the field of engineering is still facing a very historical challenge. The field of engineering is struggling to captivate and encompass workers of the “other” gender: women.
Analysis and polls have provided a clear overview of how serious this complication is. According to economist.com, only 9 percent of engineers are female, even in 2016. In some of the top developing countries, only three out of seven engineers are females.
This problem should be looked at in a serious manner on an ample global scale. It is not something to underestimate in any way, when in the U.S. alone only one out of every six undergraduate engineers is a female.
I do not even want to think about the ratio of female to male engineers at a graduate or doctoral level, as the numbers there are even more surprising and almost too scary to be true.
The stereotypical image of engineering as a male field is causing an unimaginable loss of talent globally. The issue should be addressed at the earliest convenience by all developing governments across the world and leading organizations in the field of engineering.
There is a black hole in how engineering education and familiarization in schools are addressing diversity in the field, even while women throughout history have proven to be a solid foundation of society in all fields.
Women are not lesser, non-essential contributors to the prosperity and development of human life. We should not have fewer women than men in engineering.
It is ironic to me that this basic issue continues in the profession of engineering, as the ground rules of engineering itself are problem solving and innovation. It should be clear that female voices are much needed.
The government and society should work hand-in-hand to encourage more females to take part in science and mathematics at an early age and support women in higher academic levels of engineering.
Captains of the field should also lay the ground foundation for a sustainable, equal-opportunity environment which will help female engineers thrive and succeed.
The concept of an engineer should be remodeled to the gender-equality landscape of the 21st century. The field, as well as humanity, would benefit immensely from the contributions of formerly unexplored female talent.
Despite the lower number of female engineers, careers in engineering are still very rewarding for women. Research from nae.edu highlighted that more than 90 percent of female engineers found their career rewarding.
The same study also revealed that women entered engineering fields for similar reasons as men: more than 80 percent of women confirmed an inspirational figure or teacher as their reason for choosing an engineering career and 70 percent were highly interested in problem solving and fixing mechanical devices from childhood.
This is why we must encourage stereotypically masculine math and science skills in young girls and recruit female engineers as role models for the next generation.
Greater awareness of this problem is needed, and societies around the world should start to redesign the concept of being an engineer.
Companies should develop sophisticated methods to engage and encourage females to participate in science and engineering. We must create true equality to guarantee the commitment and success of future female engineers in this male-dominated field.
Future female engineers should be reminded that the rewards are there just as much for women as for men. Women should not be afraid of managing both an intense engineering profession and multiple work-life roles.
The field of engineering should become more diverse to guarantee quicker prosperity for human beings. Female talent should be looked at and discovered, developed and trained.
The much-discussed stereotype that connects masculinity to science is, unfortunately, still common. Even with the brimming advancements society has achieved in the 21st century, we still tend to ignore key complications such as this that are directly related to larger flaws in culture.
Families and teachers globally must encourage future female engineers to take part in technical activities, have more interest in math and science and consider STEM programs.
Teachers and business owners especially must provide a fair and equal environment for females and their male classmates, colleagues and future coworkers. Females should also be given the same number of opportunities to succeed at technical tasks.
Verbally encourage them. Make them aware that they can become great engineers, scientists and marvelous professionals in society.
Young and future female engineers should be technically developed and reminded of why they would want a career in engineering and science in the first place, since it is so scarily male-dominated.
With these modest individual steps, society could create diversity, terminate engineering stereotypes and double the number of technical individuals working to make our planet a better world.
