Let’s change the debate about women in STEM: let’s celebrate our equal abilities!

Dear Greet,



I think the message you are sending out is wonderful. I recetly had a letter published in the th E&T magazine where I criticised a contributor for suggesting that should attract women to engineering by demonstrating to them that there are more 'feminine' options available to them. I loathe this principle. Women don't need to be told that they can do the 'girly' side of engineering, they need to be told that any type of engineering is suitable for them because their gender is irrelevant. On another thread someone has suggested that we need 'glamorous' role models to attract women. I personally find such a view outrageous. Does one have to be glamorous to be a role model? I absolutely agree with you that the battle in engineering is not to lure in young girls with promises of thrills and pink things, but to make gender a complete non-issue. Young people should choose their professions based on their talents and interests alone.

Dear Greet,



I think the message you are sending out is wonderful. I recetly had a letter published in the th E&T magazine where I criticised a contributor for suggesting that should attract women to engineering by demonstrating to them that there are more 'feminine' options available to them. I loathe this principle. Women don't need to be told that they can do the 'girly' side of engineering, they need to be told that any type of engineering is suitable for them because their gender is irrelevant. On another thread someone has suggested that we need 'glamorous' role models to attract women. I personally find such a view outrageous. Does one have to be glamorous to be a role model? I absolutely agree with you that the battle in engineering is not to lure in young girls with promises of thrills and pink things, but to make gender a complete non-issue. Young people should choose their professions based on their talents and interests alone.