What are the biggest challenges women in
engineering face?
Charlotte: Learning how to operate in environments
where you are typically either singular or in the
minority can be challenging and tiring. Establishing
solid mentor/mentee relationships with older
engineers (typically men) can be more difficult for
young women than young men but these relationships
are critical to staying in the field and developing as
an engineer.
Taraneh: I felt like I stood out in my classes and
was under more scrutiny in college. I realized that
it is easier for people to doubt female engineers just
because there are fewer of us. But I truly believe we are
moving towards a generation in which there won’t be
such large gender disparity in the engineering field.
Do you have a role model in engineering and
why are they your role model?
Charlotte: One of my professors in graduate school,
Katherine Kuchenbecker, is a strong role model for me
in engineering. She’s extremely intelligent, charismatic,
successful, beautiful and welcoming so she’s kind of a
gimme as a role model.
Taraneh: This is going to sound terrible but I do not
have one!
What advice do you have for woman students
who are considering the profession?
Charlotte: I would advise to stick with it if you love
it and to put in the work to find a good, supportive
working environment because they do exist. Also
reach out to your potential mentors and role models,
both male and female, as people are more likely to be
responsive and willing to share their experiences than
you might think.
Taraneh: I would tell them to just go for it. Engineering
is a truly stimulating field and the satisfaction of
solving real world problems never ceases to be
amazing. When your design becomes a part of reality,
whether it’s a chemical compound, mechanical
equipment, electrical circuit, building structures or any
engineering application major, it’s gratifying.
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