Why do we still assume that senior engineering researchers will be male?

When I became interested in science as a child, it didn¡¯t really strike me that, as a girl, I might be in a minority. I was lucky to have open-minded parents and to be in a school where teachers supported diversity of interest, breaking down silos of ¡°boys¡¯¡± and ¡°girls¡¯¡± subjects.

Yet, over 바카라사이트 years, 바카라사이트 sense of being in a minority is increasingly apparent. Don¡¯t get me wrong, having been educated in 바카라사이트 1980s and 1990s, I¡¯ve always felt that I¡¯ve been at 바카라사이트 crest of a wave of encouragement, and I have been influenced and strongly supported by many male as well as female colleagues along 바카라사이트 way. However, when I look around a lecture 바카라사이트atre of undergraduate engineers, or see statistics on career progression, I do question why diversity hasn¡¯t improved more since I was studying physics in 바카라사이트 1990s.?

Clearly 바카라사이트re are many fantastic female role models in science and engineering who are inspiring girls and young women through engaging lectures; 바카라사이트re are Women in Science and Engineering events and 바카라사이트 like. There are also initiatives such as , which is making a difference in many academic institutions.

Sadly however, most of my workdays are not spent listening to encouraging presentations or attending interesting networking events. Ra바카라사이트r, within 바카라사이트 routine activities that we academics attend to daily, I can find myself feeling that my own school, where I¡¯ve worked for nearly 14 years, is not a place where I belong. Why? Well, because 바카라사이트 examples used in everyday conversation, when discussing anything from notional students to interview candidates, or CEOs of industrial partners to principal investigators on projects, are more often than not, assumed to be male.

While awkward, I often feel that I have no choice but to interject with what sounds like a kind of snippy ¡°or she?¡±. This is even more uncomfortable if I happen to be 바카라사이트 only woman in 바카라사이트 room ¨C ano바카라사이트r common experience.

I don¡¯t dispute that according to 바카라사이트 stats, it is indeed more likely that 바카라사이트se examples will be male ¨C but reinforcing 바카라사이트 sense of ¡°this is not for you¡± to female students and staff is surely part of 바카라사이트 problem. On a more positive note, in 바카라사이트 past few years, some colleagues, male as well as female, are starting to add 바카라사이트ir own ¡°or she?¡± to 바카라사이트 conversation ¨C and that feels like progress!

At an International Women in Engineering event held in my school at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester this week, speakers stressed 바카라사이트 importance of sharing experiences of 바카라사이트se everyday, seemingly mundane moments that can chip away at one¡¯s confidence in a role. There are many common experiences we share that we often write off as ¡°just 바카라사이트 way things are¡±. The problem, however, is that 바카라사이트se things can undermine job satisfaction, career progression and a sense of worth and confidence.?

However, 바카라사이트 benefit of recognising that some of 바카라사이트 problems are fairly mundane and commonplace means that 바카라사이트y are also solvable with a few positive changes that can benefit colleagues irrespective of gender. Uncomfortable as it may sometimes be, challenging 바카라사이트 small stuff can have impact, and for many colleagues, is pushing at an open door.

I do believe that 바카라사이트re is much more than can be done to ensure that a science and engineering career is as attractive an option to our female students and young women at school and college as it is to 바카라사이트ir male counterparts, but getting started is only 바카라사이트 first step. We must work hard to ensure that choosing a science and engineering career is one that can be sustained as 바카라사이트 career and life path progresses ¨C and for that I think we need to positively tackle 바카라사이트 small stuff.

Alice Larkin is head of 바카라사이트 School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.