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Sabine von HünerbeinAcoustics Research Centre
Relevance of gender in engineering Academic view
CSE female UG students 2014/15
Mec
hanic
al Eng
ineer
ing
Petro
leum
Eng
ineer
ing
Aircra
ft & A
eron
autic
al Eng
ineer
ing
Civil E
ngine
ering
Compu
ting
Acous
tics
& PSVT
Mat
hs &
Phy
sics
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
EU comparison 2007
CSE overseas students
2012/13 2013/14 2014/159%
10%
11%
12%
Overseas students
Home 80%
EU9%
Overseas10%Student origin 2014/15
WHY FEW FEMALE ENGINEERS?
1. Girls are effectively ruling themselves out of a degree in engineering by the age of 14
2. Enjoyment of a subject is as significant as attainment in terms of a pupil’s likelihood to pursue that subject further
3. Careers information, advice and guidance is still reinforcing gender stereotypes
(Kiwana et al. 2011, EngineeringUK)
5
MY CAREER
Female dominated family and educational background
6
MY CAREER
HE: Physics degree
Job in university computing centre
PhD: Meteorology, Switzerland
Industry: Business manager in internet gaming
Postdoc: Salford Acoustics Research Centre
Lecturer: Acoustic Engineering, 2005
Senior Lecturer: Mathematics, 20127
STUDY ON GENDER EQUALITY IN UK ENGINEERING
Faulkner (2009) investigates in field studies• Styles of interaction• Topics of conversation• Humour• Social networks
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STUDY ON GENDER EQUALITY IN UK ENGINEERING
She finds mostly• Respectful styles of interaction• Wide-ranging topics of conversation and humour• Care taken to avoid, or challenge, potentially offensive
jokes and talk• Mixed-sex social networks
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STUDY ON GENDER EQUALITY IN UK ENGINEERING
Some gender exclusive dynamics within engineering workplace cultures:• Fraternal markers of familiarity and bonding• The generic ‘he’• Conversation dominated by men’s interests• Offensive humour and sanctions against challenging this• Heteronormative and sexualised culture• Pressures to conform to particular masculinities• Organisationally powerful networks of men.
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• Too few women entering academia• Once in academia women tend to find a very
supportive environment• Women support networks can help with a sense of
identity and career support
Conclusions
