Women in Science

Just like another one of my blog posts, I decided to pick an article about women in engineering. A common stereotype within the field of engineering is that it is unsuitable for women because it has an image of being a masculine profession. The research done by Powell, Bagilhole and Dainty (2009) illustrates how women respond to gender inequality in engineering careers. It also depicts the idea that women are ultimately making negative consequences for themselves by trying to assimilate into the masculine engineering culture.

                In the article by Powell, Bagilhole and Dainty (2009) second year engineering undergraduate students partake in a two year interview process. The students are divided into 26 different focus groups and each placed within an industrial position outside of school. Each interview looks to explore how attitudes and career intention changes over time. The interviewers ask about why the participants chose their careers, how they can explain their experiences within their learning environments, their future work intentions, and their transitions into the work force.

                The researchers found that women tried to “perform masculinity” because it made it easier for the women to fit into the engineering culture. This meant that the women tried to act in a way that was deemed unfeminine, like not crying or complaining about activities. Most of the women reported feelings of wanting to blend in and be “one of the guys”.  The women also felt that they were always trying to prove themselves as adequate or as equally as competent as the men. To me the most significant conclusion of the research is the anti woman approach the women acquired. Many women stated that they went into the field because not many women are engineers, and they believed women can be annoying and catty.  Women become reluctant to associate with other women to appear more macho to their male associates. Instead of women sticking together to fight against a stereotype, they seem to turn against each other.

                I enjoyed this article because it briefly examines the consequences of gender inequality in the work place. Women can turn on other women because they are socialized to believe that engineering is a male dominated field. The article also supports my stereotype that women are looked down upon in all areas that deal with science because of their gender. These women are not taken seriously, and thus feel that they need to prove themselves.  It is important for women to stick together and try to end the stereotype that science is an academic field for men. 

Reference: Powell, A., Bagilhole B., Dainty A. (2009). How Women Engineers Do and Undo Gender: Consequences for Gender Equality. Gender, Work, and Organization, 4, 417 - 427.

Inferiority of Women in Science

            Women are underrepresented in jobs that are characterized  masculine. There is a small and declining population of women graduating from college in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).  This is not to say that there is little interest in STEM majors, but often women shy away from male dominated majors due to social stigma. In a study done by Morganson, Jones, and Major (2010), the researchers were determined to find the effects of social coping on the gender gap. Social coping is a skill that helps women overcome blockades as they move forwards in their chosen careers.

            The study conducted by Morganson, Jones, and Major (2010) took place at two different colleges. Seventy five percent of the participants were males, with twenty five percent females. Data collection took place over a four semester period. The researchers collected data pertaining to social coping, commitment to major, and turnover intent. The social coping (COPE scale) is a self report item scaled test. The Career Commitment Scale computed a participants’ commitment to a STEM major. Self report items measured turnover intent. For instance “I will likely change my major in the next year” is based on a five point scale ranging from strongly agreed to strongly disagree.

            Research found that women use more social coping then men. This is probably due to gender roles. Women are more vocal in admitting for help from others to cope than men. Women who left the STEM major while at college had received greater grades than men received, but had a higher level of dissatisfaction with their major. The research supports a few reasons why women were more likely to leave the STEM major than men. First there is a lack of women mentors within the STEM programs. Even at MCLA I cannot think of many female teachers in the Computer Science Department. Women also faced feelings of low self efficacy due to the glass ceiling effect.  The glass ceiling effect is a metaphorical barrier that keeps women and minorities at a standstill within the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications.

            The research helped prove the stereotype that women do not feel welcome into jobs or majors that are associated with male attributes. This lack of acceptance leads to the decreased interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Many of the women who dropped out of a STEM major probably felt out of place and over whelmed with their lack of fitting in. The cartoons below my blog post illustrate women’s inequality in the field of science. Women are not equal to men in treatment, payment, or respect. I also want to point out that the reason that women dropped out of being STEM majors, was not due to their academic ability. It was because of the overwhelming psychological effects stemming from inequality.

 Source: Morganson, V.J., Meghan, P.J., Major, D.A. (2010). Understanding women’s underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics: The role of social coping. The Career Development Quarterly, 59, pages 169- 179.

Tradition Knows Best?

            

   The goal of my blog is to understand gender inequality in the work place. Stereotypically women are nurturers while men are the bread winners. These stereotypes are due to the Social Role Theory. Gender stereotypes arise from the traditional roles of men and women. One would think that if women were to enter the work force and take on masculine jobs, this long standing stereotype would end. Disproving my theory, Laurie Rudman et al. (2010) conducted a study that concluded women like to choose careers that are associated with feminine traits, and shy away from masculine jobs.

                The goal of Laurie Rudman’s (2010) research is to see if women that are primed with traditional gender roles from a young age, increase their acceptance of automatic gender stereotypes. Will their acceptance mean a reduction in interest in occupations that typically masculine? One hundred and seventy one women college students completed the Implicit Association Test to measure stereotypes and self- concepts.

                When giving the students the exam, she gave them thirty black and white photos that were each imprinted with a picture of a male or female in a traditional or nontraditional prime. For example, a male economics professor at Stanford would present a typical prime. A traditional female prime would be as a hair dresser or house wife. The atypical primers consist of male and female roles switching, reversing the typical primers.  After this section, the researchers asked each woman which of the careers mentioned they preferred. Results found that typical priming does influence stereotypes and career aspirations for these women. Atypical priming did not influence gender stereotypes.  The research also found that women were less interested in male jobs.

                I believe women’s apprehensiveness to holding traditionally masculine jobs is because it is not easy to enter a male dominated job. Many women might want to avoid social rejection. The participants of the study are college students about to graduate.  These students are not aware of the possibilities that await them. It could be beneficial to question women currently holding jobs that are in search of new opportunities. Their opinions about holding same gender jobs could change after college. In addition, because few women hold prominent positions in male dominated occupations, there are few role models to value.  If all women buy into the theory that traditional roles are best, stereotypes will never find ground to change.


Reference: Rudman, L.A., & Phelan, J.E. (2010). The Effect of Priming Gender Roles on Women's Implicit Gender Beliefs and Career Aspirations. Social Psychology, 41, 192 - 202.

Leadership and Gender

            To research my stereotype that there are work expectations for men and women, I chose a study that looked at the differences in males and females in administrative jobs.  Women are often encouraged to become teachers, while men are attracted to administration roles. In a study done by Marianne Coleman (2003), she analyzes the correlation between gender and leadership roles in male and female principles. In literature reviews she explains that leadership is a male trait, allowing more men to be principles in schools than women.

            Marianne Coleman (2003) conducted a descriptive study in which she interviewed and surveyed male and female principles in England.  She asked them questions about their career progress, family life and experiences after becoming principles. Many of the men acknowledged the differential treatment between men and woman in the workplace, but it obviously did not affect their jobs.  The survey showed that a large majority of women were granted their jobs by men.  In addition, once they were principles they felt that their credibility as a leader was always put into question.  Many times the women principles were believed to be secretaries by parents that would visit the schools.

            One of the important conclusions from the study found that women were extremely conscious of their sex and leadership role. If a woman was believed to be tough for disciplining a student, they came across as “bitchy” instead of stern. In the media, women are generally considered bitchy instead of tough. When Hilary Clinton ran for president, she was a “bitch” because she was an aggressive woman. Women also have the added pressure of juggling work and family life. This can affect their performance because they feel stressed and not respected. In Coleman’s conclusion she states that the problem of women being treated without respect in an administrator’s position has more to do with society. People follow social norms. Deep rooted beliefs in society continuously support male dominance in leadership roles.

Reference: Coleman, M. (2003). Gender and the Orthodoxies of Leadership. School Leadership and Management, Vol 23, No 3, 325-339.

Living up to Expectations

The goal of this blog throughout the semester is to explore why society frowns upon the sexes having equal job opportunities. The stereotypes that men thrive in the workforce while woman are supposed to be nurturers has been a long standing one. Women are encouraged to choose motherly careers like teaching and nursing. What happens when these women shy away from the norm, and become construction workers or business woman? They are harassed or not taken seriously. The stereotype hurts men just as much, if not more so. Men are encouraged to be lawyers or politicians, but deemed emasculated or even a pervert for choosing a profession like teaching kindergarten. These repercussions make it impossible for men and women to feel comfortable in their vocational decisions.

          As a new intern at an Early Intervention center for children from birth to three years old, I noticed quickly that only women work at these types of centers. Everyone from the swim instructors to the bus drivers that drop off the young children, were women. Because I was curious about this topic, I searched on the internet to see if I could find a logical explanation as to why men are not involved with early education. Many mothers believed that a job with young children would be better suited for a woman, because a woman is supposedly less aggressive than a man is. They concluded that teaching is a mother like quality because a teacher spends a large majority of their day looking after or “babysitting” children.  To me it seemed that this type of thinking breeds ignorance on the importance of equality with all jobs, thus leading to sexism. In my research I hope to analyze the dynamic of this stereotype, and find a reasonable solution to encourage men and women to find jobs that identify to their knowledge and motivation, not their gender. 

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