Women in STEM
There is an opinion that STEM majors are not for women and men are more predisposed to this. We talked to professors, Postdoctoral Scholars and Students of our school to find out if it is really difficult to be a woman in the world of STEM.
Dana Akilbekova, Assistant Professor
-Why did you choose engineering?
I choose engineering because engineers are problem solvers. I enjoy creating new things or designs, I can come up with solutions to the problem, that no one else has thought of and make a real difference.
-Is it hard to be a woman in engineering?
It is definitely can be a challenge to be a woman in engineering. Unfortunately, even now woman outnumbered by man in almost all engineering fields, it’s not easy to find a mentor or get a promotion due to the gender related bias.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
Being persistent and focused on your goals will help you to overcome all stereotypes and break every glass ceilings. Be brave and do not afraid to take on the most challenging technical or leadership roles.
Asma Perveen, Assistant Professor
– Why did you choose engineering?
In my country Bangladesh, parents have the tendency to decide the profession of their kids by deciding which majors their kids should pursue. My parents were not different, they wanted me to study medical science since the medical profession seems to be well suited for females and Engineering seems to be a profession for male in our culture. So I was told that I am not meant for that. And I guess I just disapprove of that social belief and wanted to prove that I can be an engineer too, Not only that, I guess I can be anything if I want to be. I always believe that profession has nothing to do with your gender.
– Is it hard to be a woman in engineering
Yes it is hard to be just one of the few women among tons of men around. But then which profession is easy!! Being minority is always hard, however if females want not to be the minor group in Engineering, we have to start doing engineering at some point and populate engineering with more girls.There is no way around.
– What are you working on now?
I am currently working for the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department. As part of my job, I teach courses related to Materials, Manufacturing, Mechanics. I am also involved in several research projects related to the Nonconventional machining process for biomedical alloys, Additive manufacturing, Polymer extrusion, Women in STEM.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
My advice would be just focus on your aims/jobs, do not get destructed by what people around you talk about you, because they will stop eventually when you will stop paying attention to them.
Gulnur Kalimuldina, Postdoctoral Scholar
– Why did you choose engineering?
Since school, I have really liked mathematics, physics, and chemistry. I have participated in various competitions (olympiads, scientific projects) in these subjects. So when I graduated from school, I immediately chose to continue my higher education in the engineering field.
– Is it hard to be a woman in engineering?
As in many professions, women face different challenges. Engineering is known to be a male-dominated field in STEM. Sometimes you might have a struggle with being the only female in the room with your classmates or co-workers. Do not let that discourage you. Recently more women have gotten involved in engineering and have proven that they can be on the same top-level as men. You will meet great support from your peers in STEM, and you can always speak up and share your opinion.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
I would advise being confident in their knowledge and believing in their amazing potential. Engineering is challenging; however, if you work hard and develop skills and tools, you will become an expert in the field. Today, you can learn so many skills, and I would suggest not to waste time and focusing on your future.
Sholpan Sumbekova, Postdoctoral Scholar
– Why did you choose engineering?
I chose Engineering because there was a lot of grant places for engineering degrees. I did not want my parents to pay for humanitarian degrees and I wanted to study on a scholarship.
– Is it hard to be a woman in engineering?
It is not hard to be a woman in Engineering, it is harder to stay in Engineering and Science when you are underestimated.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
Do not give up! Ever.
Tomiris Darbayeva, 3 year student, Civil and Environmental engineering
– Why did you choose engineering?
As far as I am a third year student in civil and environmental engineering, I have already gained some experience in the field of engineering. For me, choosing my future career path was not a difficult question. During my school years, I always loved physics and mathematics and wanted to do something great and make a big contribution to people’s lives. Looking at the buildings that grow day by day, the bridges that are built to connect paths, I realized that I wanted to know more about it. From there, choosing civil engineering was the right decision for me.
– There are such false prejudices that STEM is harder for women, is it really hard to be a woman in engineering?
I fully agree that prejudice about women in engineering is wrong. Women are just as strong professionally as men and have proven that many times. It is not difficult to be a woman in engineering! From a professional perspective, I have never felt that engineering is more challenging for me than for my male peers. However, the societal aspect that engineering is “not the right place for women” is still a bit troubling. Since the beginning of my studies, I have met many highly professional female engineers who have achieved great success in their fields. Most of the time, they mentioned that their skills might be underestimated in the industry. In my opinion, it is still a great opportunity to prove my high level of professionalism and knowledge.
– Have you had any difficulties being a woman in engineering?
One of the difficulties for me as a woman in engineering was the lack of representation of female engineers in this field. While I was working in a Kazakh construction company, the number of female engineers was low. Now the trend is changing, as I see more and more women in this field, especially in industry. Therefore it would be excellent to see more inspiring examples of women who succeeded in engineering and to provide some mentorship for girls who just joined STEM.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
My advice for girls would be not to pay attention to what people say. If you really want to study engineering, do not let anyone stop you. Also, be brave! There are so many things in the world to try and see. Have the courage to speak your mind, try different options and make a change. You should never think that something is impossible, because if you focus on limits, you will already be limited.
Guldariya Zharkynbekova, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student
-Why did you choose engineering?
To be honest, I have no idea in high school that I will be a student of engineering school. The sudden choice has come to me when I’ve realized that engineering gives a clear definition of what the future holds for me. At that point, engineering gives an understanding that my knowledge and skills will be used and remain relevant for all times. That’s why now I’m an engineering student.
– There are such false prejudices that STEM is harder for women, is it really hard to be a woman in engineering?
There are so many stereotypes that “real engineers” are only males but I don’t think that it’s complicated to be a woman among other male students. In our university, this diversity can’t be seen exactly as the learning environment and community makes us feel equal.
– Have you had any difficulties being a woman in engineering?
I can’t say that there is exact difficulties, but sometimes I face opinions that engineering is not for females. It can be annoying to hear that boys might be a prone to science than girls, so sometimes you have doubts about your choice. It took me a long time to feel confident in my abilities in a team full of other students. Now I see girls intrigued and motivated by women in STEM. I believe that those difficulties make women united.
– What would be your advice to girls who are just starting their journey in engineering?
My first advice is to be curious about engineering. There can be a lot of difficulties and uncertainties about your choice, but it’s not a reason to give up. Try to study and learn every time, change approaches, and find supportive peers.
Always be confident in your knowledge and skills. Of course, it seems to be scary to defend your truth in front of men with more experience than you, so let your voice be heard.
