Widening the Net: National Estimates of Gender Disparities in Engineering

Abstract

This paper explores the causes behind the severe underrepresentation of women in engineering. Based on national data on undergraduate engineering programs, this study presents cross-sectional estimates of male and female student retention. Contrary to widespread beliefs, the study found that overall and in most disciplines there is no differential attrition by gender. Instead, results suggest that gender disparities in engineering are largely driven by inadequate enrollment (not inadequate retention) of women. The paper concludes that outreachwithin institutions of higher education, across institutions (into two-year colleges, middle and high schools), and into K-12 curricular reform-are needed to address what is, at its very core, a recruitment problem.

Exploring the gender gap in the conceptual survey of electricity and magnetism

“…Women are substantially underrepresented in physics [52] and in the engineering disciplines that provide the majority of the enrollment in many calculus-based physics classes [53]. The National Science Foundation reported that in 2014, while women received 57% of all bachelor degrees in the U.S., they received only 19% of those awarded in physics and 20% of those awarded in engineering [54].…”

Examining Gender Inequality In A High School Engineering Course

“…On the other hand, it is also possible that given the newness of this course in the districts in which it rolled out, those who are among the first cohorts of female enrollees may be far from the ‘typical’ female (deCohen & Deterding, 2009). To the extent that they comprise a unique group of females who choose to enter this gender atypical course, their attitudes and perceptions may closely parallel those of their male peers in the course.…”

Factors of Influence for Females Majoring in the Fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

“…Even the females that do decide to major in engineering tend to have lower self-confidence than their male counterparts. Female engineer retention rates are approximately equal to that of males despite their lower self-confidence (Cohen & Deterding, 2009), indicating that the issue for female engineers is not necessarily their retention but their initial interest in the engineering field. Current literature indicates that there may be an unrecognized roadblock for female engineers, which requires an intervention.…”