• Question: Why do you think so many young girls are reluctant to enter jobs in engineering, and what can we do about it?

    Asked by Tartanish to Claire on 13 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Claire Cooke

      Claire Cooke answered on 13 Nov 2014:

      Hi Tartanish,

      This is one of the bigger issues that the STEM community have been trying to overcome in recent years. I believe there is no simple answer to this question unfortunately because there are too many factors involved – lack of role models, stereotypical images of ‘old white men in hard hats and boiler suits’, lack of careers information etc.

      Having said that, some types of engineering attract more girls than others – for example approx 25-28% of undergraduates studying chemical engineering are girls. General engineering courses do quite well too.

      The only thing I can say for certain is that the lack of girls interested in engineering has nothing to do with capability. One of our members who’s a retired chemical engineer told me that in his opinion, women made better engineers than men!

      I hope this situation improves soon – there are plenty of organisations out there, plus the British Government – who are actively promoting engineering and science careers to girls.

      I hope this helps.

Comments