Reputation Building: Girls and Young Women Professionally Studying Engineering Science

Reputation Building: Girls and Young Women Professionally Studying Engineering Science Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts; Ada-Lovelace-Mentoring e.V., Germany Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Germany: SET education Girls and women underrepresented < 20 % engineering degrees Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Girls drop out from SET • Why? Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Let’s have a look to perceptions! Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

perceptions are interactive • we see we are seen Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Girls drop out from SET • How do they perceive SET? • What are their expectations about SET- careers ? • How are they perceived in their gender roles ? • How are teachers interacting with them? Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Reputation Building Follows Stereotyping • Logical thinking and technical understanding seen as “male abilities” • Communication and team building seen as “female strengths” • Girls considered as “not interested in and talented for SET” Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Reputation Building Follows Stereotyping Significant other persons perceptions, e.g. teachers and peers: • believe in girls’ underachievement • girls are getting lower grades in math and science subjects • official devaluations Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Images and the Media Observations and conclusions Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

WOMENGGermany (2005) • Interviewed: 100 f and 100 m SET-students • Analysed: web pages from 6 TU • Evaluated: didactics in curricula of engineering courses Male image of SET in strong contrast to female image of girls Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Scientist (Londa Schiebinger 1989) • isolated individual • white and male • profoundly alone Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Scientist: self-sufficient individual Not evident in the picture: • his colleagues, technicians, graduate students, secretaries • his wife • patrons and politicians influencing his work Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Image of Scientist or Engineer • descriptive and proscriptive • cultivates its own clientele Londa Schiebinger (1989) Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Male image of SET very powerful in defining: • the person who is scientist • what science is like • no positive female image to counteract Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

In the media, at school, and at university daily proved: “Scientists are male!”  “a lack of role models for females” (OECD 2009) Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Identity construction Girls and young women in SET  best advisors in developing effective strategies to recruit and retain female scientists Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Video clips and information material produced by engineering students at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Objectives of the Video Clips (I) • develop role models • de-construct gender stereotypes • make problem solving skills of female students visible Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Objectives of the Video Clips (II) • support positive attitudes towards SET • promote equal opportunities • recognition of technical problems to be solved Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Objectives of the Video Clips (III) • encourage creative problem solving, inventiveness and innovativeness • provide experiences of success and accomplishment Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Objectives of the Video Clips (IV) • strengthening self-esteem and empowerment • stress the ethical perspective, e.g. environmental sustainability Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Conclusions and Outlook Gender analysis  enhance SET by sparking new perspectives, questions, and missions Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

THANK YOU! Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich

Reputation Building: Girls and Young Women Professionally Studying Engineering Science