Women in engineering: influencing equity

Summary form only given. Statistics continue to demonstrate the lack of equal representation of women graduating with engineering degrees, and, concomitantly of women engineers, engineering managers and university engineering faculty in the US workforce. This presentation looks at statistics on women through the length of the “engineering pipeline” and the factors that influence their entry into and journey through that pipeline. Special focus is placed on the importance of role models, especially on the different needs they fulfil for women at different stages of their education and careers. Evidence indicates that decisions made at these key junctures-whether or not to enter or stay in an engineering degree program, whether or not to pursue an advanced engineering degree, whether or not to be a practicing engineer-may be influenced by different factors at different stages. An expanded definition of “role model” is explored. While role models are needed to prove to younger women that “women can do anything”, they are also needed to bring about the cultural changes that will help bring more women behind them through the pipeline