March 24, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR KYRI PAPADARATSAKIS IN NJ
Corrine, I would first like to tell you that I love my job and what I do. I'm a mechanical engineer working with a state funded and federally funded program that helps industrial clients reduce their energy, waste and pollution. Stating that, I don't think you should base your desire to be an engineer on the possibility of discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination against women in the engineering workforce does exist. It is usually subtle. Plus adding the fact that most of the engineering workforce is older (I'm 24 and most of my peers are over the age of 40), their is some ageism. The attitudes are changing though. At my current workplace, the female engineers outnumber the males. This gives us a power and force unknown in most work environments. Also, the men who do discriminate are probably the ones not doing as well and were passed up for many promotions and raises.

As for getting noticed, it is much easier for a female engineer to get noticed for her successes (and failures) than her male counterpart. We are a rare creature in this field, so everyone takes notice when you do well. My general advice for you is to choose engineering and never look back. Avoid the subtle comments you may hear and keep moving forward. You will get noticed and move ahead faster if you treat it with class. And always stand up for yourself if their comments are too much.

Hope this helps!
********************
March 22, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR LYNN FRASER IN NV
We are definately moving towards a work environment where men and women
are are regarded equally - all successful companies I've worked with have
rewarded their employees based on performance and nothing else. My
experience has been that on rare occassions I've had to go the extra mile in
the beginning to prove myself where my male peers were immediately treated
with respect, but once I'd done so I was treated with equal respect as my
peers. If a company does not hire, promote, or otherwise treat women fairly
they will be letting great talent pass them by (and go work for their
competitors!) and the company's success will most likely reflect this. Let
me relate a story about a personal experience to drive this point in... I am
a small business owner, and had a meeting with myself, my male business
partner, and a man who wished to do business with us. During this meeting
the man we were meeting with ignored me completely and spoke directly to my
partner the entire time, assuming he was the decision maker. I patiently
endured this treatment, but after the man left I turned to my partner and
told him bluntly that we would not be doing business with this man - simple
as that. Moral of the story: if an individual or persons in a company are
not treating you fairly, do not do business with them. They will be the ones
to suffer by this choice - you will find plenty of opportunities with a
companies that appreciates your talent, and these companies will likely be
the more successful one in the end. As a side note - if you DO leave a
company for this reason, write a letter to upper management letting them
know why you're leaving and suggest they evaluate their treatment of women.
They probably have not recognized that they are doing anything wrong and it
will be a wake-up call that might help the next woman who passes through the
company's doors.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN RI
I'd like to echo much of what the other mentors have said. You have
the power to influence how other people treat you - if you act
confident and are competent, you'll be recognized. If you act timid
and unsure of yourself, that will be recognized. (And incompetence
eventually is recognized as such, but you are not going to be
incompetent!) A woman scientist or engineer has an advantage over a
woman artist because her work is ultimately judged by the natural
world - her bridge stays up or falls down, her chemical reaction
works or it doesn't, her calculation is correct or it isn't. Her
work can't be attacked for being too feminine. Well, some guys might
not like the pink ruffles on that bridge, but that's not the
engineering component!

********************

March 18, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR ANDREA GUNTHER IN WA
I have been working as an engineer for 6 years in the
aerospace industry and had some summer jobs prior to
that related to civil engineering. My current
co-workers are about 10% women. I have found the
experience to be extremely fair. I definitely had to
grow as a person throughout the years. In the
beginning I had a tendency to be too timid and not
express my desires for job assignments. When I
express what I want, why I want it and explain how
both my career an the company will benefit, I have
found no problems. Working hard and showing
confidence will help you gain respect and get you
noticed. Sometimes you have to make sure your
accomplishments are understood to people with decision
making authority. These issues are faced by men and
women. I have been equally treated while working as
an engineer.

During my summer jobs I worked at a soils engineering
company doing lab work. The people at the company
treated me fairly, but I did feel that I was not taken
entirely seriously while on various construction
sites. Please note that I was 18-20 years old. I was
also timid in this environment. My young age and
timid demeanor probably had a lot to do with how
people reacted to me. Remember that your male
engineer peers will have been through college with
woman. They will have had a chance to work with woman
in college and you will have a chance to learn to work
in an environment of mostly men.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR JO ELLEN HINCK IN MO
Although I am not in engineering, I think many women in science, technology and engineering have thought about your question! In my area, it seems that many entry level positions are shared by both men and women. But as you move up the ladder, fewer women than men obtain leadership positions. The women in those higher level positions are confident, strong women that can take charge and get the job done. I think these are some of the qualities that may come more naturally to men than some women, but that isn't to say women can't get the job done! The discrimination that I have experienced comes from older males rather than men near my own age, so hopefully some of the old stereotypes about women are breaking down. If you go into a field with a good work ethic, intelligence, and confidence, you will succeed.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR JACQUELYN JURGA IN MA
Hello Corinne-
Those are very serious questions you have asked.
The first about discrimination against women:
I have to admit that I have been very fortunate to have found positions in
large companies that have strict visions and values with regard to treating
their employees with respect whether male or female. I have spoken to
women who were in career situations, where as a female engineer, did not
have the support or backing of their companies and eventually left the
field. I do not know the recent statistics on the subject, however there
is a percentage of women engineers that leave the field due to
discrimination. ... I can only suggest that when you interview for a job at a
company, that you also take a very detailed look at them also. Ask if
they have an integrity or values initiative within the corporation. That
will give you a clue as to whether or not the upper management is committed
to their employees with regard to discrimination. Engineering is a great
field. I have been in mechanical engineering for 20 years, and have no
regrets. Don't let some of the statistics and others experiences scare you
away from your dream and determination to be an engineer. Just decide and
then act on that dream with focused hard work and a vision of success.
Do male engineers have stereotypes of women that are not true.
The world is changing, and for the better, when it comes to the old
stereotypes regarding women in the workplace. One example is the old idea
of companies not wanting to hire a woman because as soon as she has
children, her job will no longer be important to her, is long gone. Women
are in every professional field, and men are finding that their lives are
richer when they play a role in family matters along with their wives. If
you find a man who uses stereotyping, talk to him and educate him with the
facts. A point to remember is that facts work. Don't get upset or mad ---
calmly present some facts. It always works. Besides... a good debate is
always good to keep you on your toes. You will find those who challenge
you will soon be your biggest supporters and networking colleagues.
Is it true that it is harder for women to get noticed when accomplishing
the same successes as men?
If you find yourself in a company that does not recognize your
contributions, but does recognize men for the same level and scope of
successful achievement, find yourself another job. Simple as that . They
do not deserve you, and there are so many companies that would appreciate a
hard working educated and savvy young woman to join their team, that you do
not have to put up with such treatment.
Note: Keep your job until you find another one. Don't just quit and leave
yourself financially strapped inbetween positions.

I wish you all the luck in the world toward your dream of becoming an
engineer.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR KRIS MOODY IN NH
: I believe you will find that stereotypes and assumptions in the
workplace are not so different than in life in general. I have experienced
both the good and the bad. There will always be people who make
assumptions about you because of your gender, your race, your ethnic
background, your religion, your sexual orientation, your physical
attributes, even your clothes. But there will also always be people who do
not make these assumptions, and who will give you a chance and respect you
for who you are, and the skills you bring to your job. The important thing
is to think well of yourself and do not allow other people's assumptions or
negative actions hold you down or hold you back. Pursue your goals and
your dreams because they are yours. You will find respect, and you will
even help some narrow minded people learn to change their views and their
ways. With all that said, I will say that I personally have had fabulous
experiences working with men who have not made assumptions about me, who
have respected my work and treated me exactly like they treated the other
men. With the exception of a very few negative experiences, almost all of
my career (over 20 years now) has been filled with good men and good
working relationships with men. I could think that I am lucky. I prefer
to hope that the good outnumber the bad across the board. Maybe society is
changing, slowly but surely, and maybe you won't ever experience a negative
stereotype. That is a day to look forward to.