Should You Encourage Your Daughter to Become an Engineer?

Should women be engineers and scientists? Decades ago many might have said no, but in recent years women have slowly increased their presence in these fields. Still, great strides remain to be made and the statistics still heavily favor men in these careers. So should you encourage your daughter to buck the trend or pursue a more 'female-oriented' profession?

Find available tutors

women STEM science girls engineering

Unpopular Choice

During the 2006-07 school year, the National Center for Educational Statistics reported that only 17% of engineering degrees were awarded to women. According to most recent statistics, less than 10% of engineers in the United States are women.

It would seem that females have an uphill battle if they wish to enter jobs in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). Why is this so?

Stereotyping is likely the main culprit. Women aren't supposed to be interested in science and math, right? In many cases, this idea is impressed upon girls at a young age. Many girls do not like science and math, making them unpopular. So what happens if a girl decides to pursue these subjects? She will likely become unpopular herself. Easier to stick with what all the other girls are doing, right?

Sadly, that might be exactly what's happening. It's impossible to know how many potentially successful female engineers have been steered in another direction even while in elementary or high school by peers who simply don't understand that these subjects are not male-exclusive.

Other factors come into play when talking about male dominance in STEM-related fields: the wide belief that men are simply smarter when it comes to STEM subjects, male superiority regarding spatial skills and low self-esteem in girls when it comes to science, technology or math.

Against All Odds

Many acknowledge the void when it comes to women and engineering or other STEM-focused careers. Is enough being done to entice women into the field?

Some colleges actively work to recruit women to pursue engineering and other STEM-related degrees. Some provide mentors or tutoring programs for women interested in studying engineering. Efforts are being made to reach out to high school girls to generate interest in STEM subjects.

But arguably one of the most influential sources of support will come from parents. And if your daughter comes home one day and says she wants to be an engineer, the decision should definitely be encouraged.

Why? Because the stereotype needs to be put to rest. Because women shouldn't feel intimidated or afraid to compete in a male-dominated arena. Because engineering generally lacks the vision and voice of women.

Consider: early airbags in automobiles were designed by mainly male engineers and were 'tailored...to male adult bodies,' according to authors Jane Margolis and Allan Fisher in their 2002 book, Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing. This, say the authors, resulted in 'avoidable deaths for women and children.'

So believe in her. Watch the Discovery Channel with her. Encourage her participation in science projects. Help her research colleges with the best engineering programs. Ultimately, let your daughter's voice be heard. As Will Rogers once said, 'Women are not the weak, frail little flowers that they are advertised. There has never been anything invented yet...that a man would enter into, that a woman wouldn't, too.'

Did you find this useful? If so, please let others know!

Other Articles You May Be Interested In

  • More Blog Articles
    How to Teach Your Kids to Use the Internet Responsibly

    A question for parents: would you allow your children to play outside without keeping an eye on them? Many would likely say no. Well, the same mentality should be used when your kids use the Internet; in other words, kids should not be allowed to roam the vast world of the Internet unsupervised and without fully understanding its...

  • More Blog Articles
    How to Talk to Your Kids About Bullying

    If you have a child in elementary, middle or high school, then you've likely heard plenty of stories about bullying. Even if your child is not the target of bullying, he or she could still be affected by it. As a parent, you'll certainly want to make your kids aware of this persistent and growing problem in schools across the...

We Found 7 Tutors You Might Be Interested In

Huntington Learning

  • What Huntington Learning offers:
  • Online and in-center tutoring
  • One on one tutoring
  • Every Huntington tutor is certified and trained extensively on the most effective teaching methods
In-Center and Online

K12

  • What K12 offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Has a strong and effective partnership with public and private schools
  • AdvancED-accredited corporation meeting the highest standards of educational management
Online Only

Kaplan Kids

  • What Kaplan Kids offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Customized learning plans
  • Real-Time Progress Reports track your child's progress
Online Only

Kumon

  • What Kumon offers:
  • In-center tutoring
  • Individualized programs for your child
  • Helps your child develop the skills and study habits needed to improve their academic performance
In-Center and Online

Sylvan Learning

  • What Sylvan Learning offers:
  • Online and in-center tutoring
  • Sylvan tutors are certified teachers who provide personalized instruction
  • Regular assessment and progress reports
In-Home, In-Center and Online

Tutor Doctor

  • What Tutor Doctor offers:
  • In-Home tutoring
  • One on one attention by the tutor
  • Develops personlized programs by working with your child's existing homework
In-Home Only

TutorVista

  • What TutorVista offers:
  • Online tutoring
  • Student works one-on-one with a professional tutor
  • Using the virtual whiteboard workspace to share problems, solutions and explanations
Online Only

Our Commitment to You

  • Free Help from Teachers

  • Free Learning Materials

  • Helping Disadvantaged Youth