History of women in engineering
Alright kiddo, let's start from the beginning.
A long time ago, people believed that women weren't supposed to have jobs like men, especially in areas like engineering. They thought that women weren't smart enough or strong enough to do the job. But this belief, as you will learn, wasn't true.
Despite society's beliefs, the role of women in engineering began as early as ancient times. For example, in ancient Egypt, women were involved in the construction of bridges, aqueducts, and temples. In ancient Rome, women used to build roads, tunnels, and public facilities, which shows that women have always been a part of engineering, despite not being acknowledged.
Fast forward to the 18th and 19th century, when engineering became a modern profession, women's involvement was limited to things like home economics and nursing. A few women were able to study engineering in institutions like MIT and the University of California, but they were often subjected to harsh treatment and faced many obstacles.
But things started changing in the 20th century. As more women began to fight for their rights and professional opportunities, women's enrollment in engineering schools started to increase. Women engineers like Beatrice Hicks and Lillian Moller Gilbreth paved the way for aspiring female engineers.
In the seventies, women's rights movements brought more focus on equality for women in the workplace. This movement resulted in the Equal Pay Act in 1970, which required employers to give men and women the same pay for the same job. This acted as a stepping stone for many women, especially those in engineering.
Today, women contribute their talents and skills to every area of engineering, from aerospace to civil engineering to computer engineering. Still, the percentage of women in the engineering field is not equal to that of men. But it is improving every day, and with more women in engineering, the profession will continue to grow and progress.
So there you have it, kiddo! Women have been involved in engineering for a long time, and they're continuing to break through barriers and make history in this fascinating field.
A long time ago, people believed that women weren't supposed to have jobs like men, especially in areas like engineering. They thought that women weren't smart enough or strong enough to do the job. But this belief, as you will learn, wasn't true.
Despite society's beliefs, the role of women in engineering began as early as ancient times. For example, in ancient Egypt, women were involved in the construction of bridges, aqueducts, and temples. In ancient Rome, women used to build roads, tunnels, and public facilities, which shows that women have always been a part of engineering, despite not being acknowledged.
Fast forward to the 18th and 19th century, when engineering became a modern profession, women's involvement was limited to things like home economics and nursing. A few women were able to study engineering in institutions like MIT and the University of California, but they were often subjected to harsh treatment and faced many obstacles.
But things started changing in the 20th century. As more women began to fight for their rights and professional opportunities, women's enrollment in engineering schools started to increase. Women engineers like Beatrice Hicks and Lillian Moller Gilbreth paved the way for aspiring female engineers.
In the seventies, women's rights movements brought more focus on equality for women in the workplace. This movement resulted in the Equal Pay Act in 1970, which required employers to give men and women the same pay for the same job. This acted as a stepping stone for many women, especially those in engineering.
Today, women contribute their talents and skills to every area of engineering, from aerospace to civil engineering to computer engineering. Still, the percentage of women in the engineering field is not equal to that of men. But it is improving every day, and with more women in engineering, the profession will continue to grow and progress.
So there you have it, kiddo! Women have been involved in engineering for a long time, and they're continuing to break through barriers and make history in this fascinating field.
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