I want to be an engineer, but as a women that's kind of scary as it a male dominated field?

[Ellaxxxx]

I want to be an engineer, but as a women that's kind of scary as it a male dominated field.

Would I be eaten alive by all the men? Would I always be the second choice for a job because I'm a girl even though I'm better than them?

Whatcha think?

[DaveJord]

Honestly, it doesn't matter. In any profession assertive, confident and pro active people are twice more likely to be successful. Period no matter who or what you are.

So if yoy go into it perceiving yourself as being at a disadvantage for any reason... well maybe it has nothing to do with anything else but your own insecurities. If you precieve your gender as a disadvantage... then your 10 times more likely to make one for yourself. And then use your being a women as excuse for you failures based upon your preconceived false perceptions.

[bolverk]

The first question would be what kind of engineer? the title has been co-opted so many disciplines.
If you go into mechanical engineering for instance, do not expect to get respect if you have a degree, you will not be trusted if you haven't the practical knowledge and skills to go along with it. You will have to be ready to get ready totally filthy and in some thing that you'd rather not think about, and if you opt for contract work you could be way from the trapping of 'civilisation' for a month or more at a go, the money is good but you'll be working hard to get it, and do not for get the inherent risks that go with the job,
The same would got for most of the engineering jobs.
And forgive me for saying this if you want to go into engineering in all its forms you are starting a bit late at 19, most engineers start at 16 going into a 4 year Apprenticeship (Basic Training) then continue to add skills as needed doing a degree if they want to as a distance learning student.

[Ellaxxxx]

I'm acctually doing my leaving cert this year and I have been doing engineering since I was 12, Im Irish by the way so our schooling is different

[bolverk]

Good Lock in what ever branch of Engineering you go into, I was born into an engineering family, and was tearing engines apart before I was 8 (according to family dad started me on that to stop me destroying the house).

[Ellaxxxx]

That's really cool, i would have loved to do that, I only started when I went to secondary school

[whereismyjohnny]

It is a male-dominated field, but don't let that scare you or stop you from becoming an engineer.

You might have to work a bit harder in order to prove yourself or come across rude males who look down on you because you are a woman in that field, but not everyone is like that. My sister is a civil engineer and she only had like two negative experiences.

If you like it and if it's a job you want to do, go for it. Don't let anything stop you, you'll be just fine. Good luck!

[TrueConfection]

There are lots of female engineers and colleges love having women enter their engineering programs. I think you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Actually it doesn't matter if it is a male-dominated field because everyone needs to move anyone that they are just capable not just women. There always going to be people bashing on each other, even men do it when each other because they like to compete but that's not supposed to stop anyone if that's truly their passion. The reason why you won't notice male discrimination as much is because they are just so use to insults that they don't make it a big deal a lot of times. That's why i encourage you to toughen up and think big about your goals. The obstacles won't matter if your goals are big enough and good luck.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Needs to *prove anyone

[SnowedIn]

Please, please, please, please do this! Follow that dream. Yes, you'll have to be confident and assertive but, no, you won't be eaten alive or second choice. If it's what you want, seize it and run with it and do it. You don't want to look in the mirror when you're 48 and regret the choices you didn't make and the roads down which you didn't go.

[exitseven]

I work in IT which is another male dominated field but there have been a lot more women entering it recently. Engineering is probably the same way.

[Ellaxxxx]

Yes engineering is quite similar, what exactly do you do in IT? As I haven't decided which engineering field I'm going into

[exitseven]

I am a network engineer and recently a computer science professor.

[Ellaxxxx]

Thats so cool, I've really struggled to decide between computer engineering or mechanical engineering

[exitseven]

The computer field is not what it was 20 years ago but it is still a good job to get.

[Agent_Elflord]

I don’t know about being second choice for jobs, but I’ve never had issues with women in engineering. I’m only in CAD so I only do the designing and drafting for engineers, but I’ve had woman engineers as professors and I admire them, but that has more to do with the way they teach and how we’ve clicked. I’ve also had women as Tutors, TAs and classmates in these courses and I have no issues with asking them for help.

[notwoke]

don't worry, corporate America is tripping over itself to lower the bar for blacks and women. You'll have many job offers just so large corps can't be accused of discrimination and short of shooting your boss in the face with a gun you'll be un-fireable. You won't have to work a day in your life. Lucky you

[VanessaValentine]

Ummmm…….. First, yes they will try to eat you alive just not in the way you are thinking.

Second, no you will easily get a job becuase you are a women in a mans dominated field. As for promotions however that could be more difficult.

[DaveJord]

I will say being a man in a male dominated career can be a big disadvantage. So women might find that to be intimidating, but its a lot easier for them in a lot of other ways. For example with promotions. The women is always automatically becomes a consideration, because nobody wants to appear as being bias by not considering her... were as a man your just a number.

I can't tell you how many double shifts, or weekend hours, I as a man was expected to put inorder to succeed. When nobody expected the same level of commitment from a single mother with two kids. Yeah, she was damn good at her job... for 8 hours a days, and due to that fact she didn't have the same level of expectations put on her.

So yeah, I totally used that to justify why I needed more money or to be paid better, or as reason why I deserved the promotion.

I am there at work putting in the extra hours, and that's not about it being a boys club. She might be better than me for 8 hours a day... but I am putting in 60 hours a week. And I want to be paid for that, or I going to fine a better job, and when I am gone whose going to put in those extra hours?

[NerdInDenial]

No, you're not; in fact, companies are being incentivized to hire minorities and women. You will be fine.

[Stevefiveo]

Yeah, it would definitely be tough. Hopefully you will be with men and that are not angry at women. Good luck.

[panamared1]

Do not let being a women be a handicap for you, make it an asset

[aaron210419]

If it's what you want, go for it!