Dee Flint wrote:
"Michael Coslo" wrote in message
...

K4YZ wrote:


The following is from the ARRL website...I brought over the first
paragraphs as a starting point. The remainder may be read in it's
entirety at www.arrl.org.

My question: Is this even an issue?

Kind of. There is a wide gender gap between men and women in the
engineering fields.



But people consider it more important than it really is. There's a gender
gap in the other direction in many fields.

Very true. I'm a firm believer in that a person should be able to do
what they want career, regardless of (you know the list).

But there are a number of people in this world that seem to think that
the only differences between male and female is culture driven. How much
is culture driven, and how much is fundamental difference is up for
debate. But to deny any fundamental differences would almost certainly
be wrong.


But working in the field, they account for 9 percent of all U.S. engineers

There is a quote that shows up at several sites:

"Women still face gender-specific obstacles when studying and preparing
for careers in engineering and other sciences. There is solid evidence
that mentoring can help address this disparity" said Muller"

http://tinyurl.com/5lm92

Despite the prevalence of the quote, I'm not sure what the disparities
are.



I got into engineering in 1969 and didn't find any obstacles. So I don't
know what the disparities are either.

The only obstacle is having to work with Engineers! ;^) But that
affects everyone considering the field..




Or they can force 'em to go to "tech camp"

http://tinyurl.com/5m82m



Interestingly enough, there are High schools that place emphasis on
science and math. The enrollment in these schools is roughly equal, gender
wise. But the female students tend to gravitate to liberal arts, medicine
and law.

see
http://tinyurl.com/3umlf


Finally, I'm not sure what to think. I've discussed the issue with a woman
engineer I work with. Interestingly enough, she says she KNEW she wanted
to be an engineer from the time she was a kid. No forcing to go to camps.
She thinks the recruitment efforts are not going to work, because one does
not pick engineering like one may pick a major from a school catalog.



I knew I wanted to do something in the math/science/technical field but
didn't home in on engineering specifically until I was a junior in high
school. I tend to agree that the recruitment efforts will have little
impact as if you don't have the inclination you won't pick the field even if
recruited. Or if you do pick it, you won't stay with it.


I think there was some mention in one of the places that I researched
about women who did get an engineering degree, but then got another in
another field such as medicine or legal counseling.

- Mike KB3EIA -