Female Engineers Share Experiences In A Male-Dominated Field 

I loved the girl saying she liked math and science because it was challenging, reassuring to know you can be in a field even if you aren't "naturally" good at it.

I'm gonna pray for all those wonderful women and have success in their goals.

I hope the woman in the maroon top reported her coworkers... that's completely unprofessional. They shoud've been repremanded for that kind of behavior.

I'm a young female engineer and I had a contractor trying to explain to me what was being done on a remodel project and why when I was at a job site checking on something. He simply assumed I had no idea what was going on and that he had to explain it to me in a over simplified manner. Little did he know that I designed everything he was building.

I'm a 6th semester electrical and electronics engineering (female) student and in my class 70% are female. I'm from India btw.

This is the type of empowerment I need to listen to eye of the tiger 6 times in a row.

I went to college for Video Game Programming and the first class of my first semester, we had to work in groups starting on day 1 and all the guys wanted to be in my group, but my group didn't want me to help. Now I work at a car dealership and I have customers who tell me that they want to speak to a man because he will know what he is talking about when it comes to cars...

I dated a fellow engineering student and one of the big reasons we broke up was because he told me that he wanted me to stay home and take care of the kids despite me going into a field with more job security and opportunities.

Just wanted to say... I'm really proud of every women out there chasing her dream. YOU'RE AMWSOME.

I want to be an Imagineer, an engineer that comes up with the ideas and designs for rides and hotels for Disney. I’m glad more females want to be engineers

I studied maths and computer science at uni and often found it be be an advantage being a girl. First day definitely sucked seeing a room full of about 200 guys and maybe 10 girls max. However, I definitely think that lecturers and tutors would put more effort in explaining things to us girls than the guys. So when the tutor would go around the class and help each of us individually, they would spend about twice as long with girls compared to the guys. I genuinely think it was just subconscious on the tutors part, and at first I found it quite condesending. But hey, not gonna complain about getting more help!

Those little "jokes" are the root of the problem

As a female Software Engineer, I would love to see and hear more videos from Shreya. I’m only at the beginning of my career, but I wish I had figures like Shreya to help me better understand my “micro-aggression.” Shreya, everything you’ve experienced is relatable and just sounds too familiar. You’re a badass

I had to prove I didn't *cheat* on a math final exam just because I got the highest score in the class. I was forced to show my notes. Infuriating.

Im a software engineer, and boy did I have problems with my university teachers, sometimes they refused to belive I coded my own programs and I had to explain every single detail of it to convince them, the other students were enbarassed if I explained something to them, like that hurted their ego (sorry for the bad english, not my first language)

As a hesitant college girl, I needed this

I'm majoring in CS. Wish me luck.

I did Chemical Engineering, which I loved. And in one class, my professor asked if we comprehended things in our minds through images or words, I said words and he told me I should be in literature. The same professor also told me, on another occasion, that pretty girls shouldn't be in engineering, they should in social sciences. After college, I started working for a private company led by two male directors; they would give me the biggest projects to handle because they didn't trust the others to meet deadlines and give quality work, but when it came to pay raises, the male engineers would always get higher amounts. And I was told by someone else, that one of the directors thought I was the prettiest in the office and that if he had the chance he would "try something" on me. In the end I realized I was harming myself mentally, by being in that toxic environment and left the job. The only good thing I did notice is that most of the younger men in the field are more open and accepting of treating us as equals, as oppose to the older generations. So there is hope that these stigmas would change in time, and we would be recognized by the value of our mind and ethics, and not our bodies.

there’s a tv show called good trouble that actually shows these points pretty well in a realistic way. the fact that women of colour are so discriminated against in these work environments is sickening, so many men still fail to educate themselves and take responsibility for their actions and im just tired of it.

As a female who is nervous about taking astronomy classes and perusing astronomy as a career, this was nice to hear. I know people will try to bully me or mess with me, but knowing how to handle it is really helpful. So thank you ladies and don’t listen to what other people tell you, you’re amazing!

My advice if you want to be an engineer: Try to be the best always, try to alwys study more and always evolve, because every error you make its worst because you are female. Its sad but it has been the best way to keep ignorants far away

Same things happened to me in my architecture classes. It is still heavily dominated by males and I hated their passive aggressive and demeaning remarks.

I was 1 of 2 girls in a class of 40 when I was in engineering class. The teachers didnt treat me any differently to the guys. But the male students insisted upon trying to do the hands on things for me. But I was actually quicker and more efficient (basically better) at the practical side of things. One perk was because I was a female I was offered an apprenticeship on the spot for Morgan Motors as they didnt have enough women on the team.

I love math and programming! I've been coding since I was 12 ( I'm 16 now) and plan on majoring in computer science

I'm studying to become an engineer atm. This wasn't very motivating to watch lol.

I want to study Renewable Energy Engineering, I'm in my senior year of High School, and in my school in the last two semesters they teach you more focused classes depending on what you want to study in college. Anyways, in my class we are like 5 girls and 50 boys, and there's one boy who's always saying that we (girls) shouldn't be there, that Engineering is just for boys, the thing here is that he is failing all of the classes, and is always asking me and my friend for help in projects that he claims we shouldn't be doing it makes no sense at all. But, that's the thing about being a girl and an Engineer, prove others you have the strength to make it through the critics and do what you love.

Makes me wonder if those guys would be able to take the same jokes back. Would the people that joked about her getting tossed around keep that lighthearted energy if she said "You wish it was you, huh?"?

I had a teacher of mine completly ignore me and talk to my (male) friend about an engineering work experience placement after i had made it clear that i want to pursue engineering and my firend had no interest in the field at all. People hate on feminists and say that there is no need for the movement in the 21st century but untill no girl has stories like these we need to fight for equality.

This is painful to watch. Reminds me of my own negative experiences. “Hey, not bad work for a chick” after envisioning and leading an initiative to partner with Microsoft. Being given busy work which was immediately discarded while my male coworker had to do all the heavy lifting himself. Constantly being told I’m too aggressive or stepping out of line when I tried to go above and beyond. Accomplishing something truly amazing and not only not given any recognition, but criticized for the most ridiculous reasons. Not being hired for jobs I was perfectly qualified for and had the best references for. Being told a new policy was put in place where I had to take a programming test to get the job, acing it, the hearing they ditched the test after I was the only one who took it because the test was clearly broken. Being told a new policy was put in place where new hires had to work as independent contractors for 30 days before being hired and knowing for a fact I was the only one who was told that. Being berated in a team meeting for not getting a piece of code to work before I convinced him to run it for the first time so he could see it did work. My positive experiences far outweigh the bad ones, but those dings to the soul really add up over a career.

In first semester of engineering we had an assignment where we had to build a spaghetti bridge which always made a mess. When it came to cleaning time one of the guys in my group gestured to me and, in an awkward joking way, was like 'oh she should clean it since she's used to it'. He was a bit socially stunted so I don't think he meant it badly, but I gathered the mess into a pile and put it under his chair, so five minutes later he realised and freaked out. He didn't make that type of joke again lol.

Yay for all women in IT

I would be so mad being told these remarks! Why do people talk down to other like that?

I’m hoping I won’t experience this once I graduate with my degree, and go into the industry. Some of the responses I get while currently in school and the treatment makes me question if it’s even worth it. While the video made me irritated, I’m also glad to see it is possible to find a place with respect for women in STEM!

I sincerely hope these experiences are not common. I work in IT myself and my male colleagues have never treated me with anything other than respect. No women should be discouraged from pursuing a career they're interested in just because it's a male-dominated field! Big props to the ladies in the video for dealing with these issues with their head held high, I'm sure they have wonderful careers ahead of them.

I study architectural engineering, and I am one of three girls in my department. It's so little of us they call us sisters. It's really annoying when the men in my department ask me if I need a mans touch on my projects. Or when I hear "women shouldn't be engineers"

As a woman in a non-stem field I take extra issue with those professor's remarks that it's "great she thinks she can have an analytical mind". Not only is it extremely demeaning to her, it also implies that scholars in other fields are in some way inferior to those working in stem. No doubt stem is an incredibly rewarding field that's set to change the ways we live forever, but many other fields with results that aren't as immediately rewarding get looked down on very heavily these days. I actually already knew which field I wanted to enter in middle school, yet had to sit through countless talks of mostly women telling me I should choose stem, a field I was absolutely not suited for or personally interested in, because it was more valuable and I needed to do the "feminist" thing. My passion was being demeaned because it isn't the hype of the time, and that is the way I'm sadly able to relate to these stories even though I took a very different path in my studies.

Im going to school in Japan for Programming and i was really intimidated by how they would treat me since I'm a female and also a foreigner but know i feel that i can do it. Thank You

Now we need a video on male nurses in a field dominated by women

I'm not sure why men don't think women have the intellectual capacity to work in stem fields. I had no issue majoring in science and graduating at the top of my class as an honors student. I then went on to become a full-time laboratory technician in the stem field of genetics and ancestry. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be here getting paid a comfortable living salary for the work I do if I truly sucked at it. Lol

I quit my first engineering job in August due to toxic environment and a bad manager who doesn’t know how to manage a team and lacks interpersonal skills. Last thing he told me was: engineering is not for everyone. I wanted to tell him: one day I will beat him in any areas of my life and his photography sucks.

I’m 15, one day I’d like to be an engineer and work for Google, Microsoft, or LEGO

Thank you for putting this together. I've spent over 25 years working with women working within male-dominated fields... and unfortunately it's still an uphill struggle for so many women on a daily basis.

Was stopped in the halls of the electrical engineering building and asked if I was in the wrong building 😂

What's really frustrating about stem classes is that when you ask for help there tend to be a lot of smart-asses. I've struggled with this so much as a stem major and it only discourages me from asking for any help at all especially during a lecture because there's always that one person that just wants to put you down

I can totally identify with identify with the being talked down, having a peer saying 'Your work sucks!' and then present it to the client and get a 'You exceeded our expectations' comment. Even then, the mean one stings and it does longer that expected :( Great video!

I study engineering too, and I can feel relate for everything they have been saying, for some reason your teachers make jokes about you in class, your coworkers and your clients don't believe that you are able to solve problems or to do anything at all. They just want to treat you as a kind of secretary or something. It has been irritating for me for so much time, but when the comments star getting hurtful or inappropriate I just stand up and confront them. I don't get quiet for those "jokes" and I think every one should say something to stop this comments.

I'm a doctor and when I was an intern, we had this patient with VERY high blood sugar levels. I'm talking 400-something fasting. He had scabies and gangrene of his toes and a host of other problems. He was also hypertensive and had had a stroke some years ago. I was discussing with the resident of how he was at a high risk of developing another stroke. She agreed with me and we decided to talk to the unit head, increase the patient's insulin dose and/or frequency. I spoke to the unit head and he pretends to not hear me. The resident talks to him and he ignores her too. Long story short, the patient had a massive hemorrhagic stroke that same week and didn't make it. Later on, a female professor confided to me and the resident that the unit head never listened to any suggestions coming from a woman. He also had one of the highest mortality rates in the hospital. And that's including the emergency services. Conversely, we also had the head of department who was extremely patient with everyone; be it his residents or interns or nurses. He was also the youngest head of department in the history of the hospital because all his female colleagues had weighed in their opinion when the hospital management was deciding on who they should make head of department.

As an engineering student I definitely relate to some of what was said... never to the extreme as some of their experiences but I do know what it feels like to be overlooked or discounted simply because of my gender.

As an engineer myself, I’ve been discriminated a couple of times but I see the world is changing. But who runs the world? Girls!!!! ALWAYS!

This was awesome to see seeing as I want to be a mechanical engineer once I finish school and makes me want to work even harder to achieve my goals like these ladies !!

I feel really lucky because even though I am the only female at my firm, I get treated with a ton of respect and given a lot of responsibility. But i've heard from friends who work else where, that they don't have the same experience I do.

Technology is a male dominated field. Its nice to see a woman share her story.

This is a super cool video, and I find its really awesome you guys are talking about this and I really appreciate this as my Aunty is an engineer and even she wasn’t I would still find it awesome! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I am in computer science, i didn't have anyone telling me I couldn't do it. I was an A student, I felt very encouraged by males to continue because they would come to me for help with their work. It was very encouraging but it also made me realize that I like teaching and helping rather than the work itself... One thing I regret being a woman is the lack of confidence and that certain experiences gets to you more emotionally. After graduation, my lack of confidence made me choose a less technical career, and even within the company, I did not ask to switch careers. To me, it was not society, it was myself who stopped me. Women needs to be encouraged and asked specifically what they want and encourage them get there. They might not ask for themselves.

As a female high school student who wants to become a software engineer, this shows me that there are other women like me that want to have a role in the STEM field and i truly want to become a successful software engineer. I’ve been learning even if there are limited classes you can take in my high school.

Wow I love this ! As a small petite girl I do notice these “comments” all the time at the work place when I’m in a authority position. I’m currently studying for engineering and I truly inspire seeing all these strong STEM women telling their stories!

Thanks for making this! As a woman in the armed forces I can relate to a lot of this. Would be interested in a video of female vets or active duty, or female first responders!

Rip me cuz i wanna major in engineering and im a girl

I’m currently studying IT and about 20 guys in the same class haven’t even made eye contact with us (girls) yet and we’re already 4 months in the school year lol we don’t even know their names sighhh

I'm currently a senior studying Mechanical Engineering and I feel like a lot of companies are looking for women to work for them because they legally need the diversity and any company that is worth it's salt will make sure you are treated with the dignity and respect you deserve. If you aren't being respected I would urge you to go all the way up the chain of command and make sure something is done about the harrasment. And if they don't do anything you should immediately start looking for another place to work because if the company won't protect you then you shouldn't be giving them anything in return. TL;DR- KNOW YOUR WORTH AND DEMAND BASIC HUMAN RESPECT

Lol. Welcome to India where there are more engineering students than companies or colleges combined.. including me🤦🏻‍♀️

i’m one of the three girls in my CS class. it sucks because they look down at you as if you’re stupid if you do something wrong

I love this! I want to go into the mechanical engineering field and I’m the only girl in my workshop class at high school right now and it’s a little intimidating but I love the challenge. I also love math and science so hearing that in this video reassured me I was heading in the right direction! Thank you! This is a great insider!

I am currently the only female in my department and they think its funny to give me the "soft" jobs. I'm in my 3rd year and I'm finally getting my training :/

I'm a senior and next year I'll be starting my first engineering year to hopefully become a successful chemical engineer but what annoys me is people telling me chemical engineering is okay but mastering in petroleum is too much for a girl you'll get stepped on easily and you're too sweet for that ... I love math and science and I'm sick of people thinking males are the ones for this kind of jobs because frankly.... *I'm ready to kick the butts of those who underestimate me*

Although I’m a male, I want to encourage women to pls apply to colleges as a CS Major, there is a lack of supply in this stream and lastly, it’s a beautiful major and you’ll learn a lot. (I am pursuing Artificial Intelligence)

Hey I like the idea but putting just two examples makes your video... not that great

I'm a store manager at an auto parts store. I can relate to this.

I'm a female web and game developer, and I'll tell you first hand that females in tech get a lot of hate and doubt.

So much respect for all these inspiring ladies

I’m studying information science (IT) in Germany ... I know how it feels to be “the only girl” but the most important thing is to never forget why you’re doing this ...

amen. i needed this

Computer science student here ! Totally relate ! Love hearing about other women in the field

I am from Peru and studied Architecture in college remember in my first year, a professor told me: "Why don´t you study social sciences? or communications? You don´t have a chance here" This was after receiving a low grade because I didn´t understand the assignment and I delivered the project with many errors. I would say I defended my presentation with all my strength and with good communication skills. But my teacher's comment did nothing but humiliate me and I remembered it until my senior year. Well... as soon as I graduated I pivoted to a career in software engineering as a self-taught student. And I ended up working as an engineer lol. My advice to all women in tech is to let these comments make you stronger, listen only to constructive criticism and your own voice.

One of the most annoying issues i face is that I always get ignored/told I'm wrong when I propose a solution for a problem but when a man proposes the exact same solution not 2 minutes later, everyone cheers him on like he's the new Einstein!

They are complaining about the same stupid corporate stuff, nothing new and specific because of their “gender”

I am a Mechanical engineer and just got hired in well reputed company but being a only girl in my department I felt very left out and was doubtful whether I should continue or not.This video has helped me lot and keep motivating whenever I have a rough day.It is so relatable...thankyou

Next year in university, I plan on majoring in Environmental Engineering. I am currently a Senior that is dually enrolled in a public highschool and an engineering program. I am one of two girls in a class of 19 students. I will be the first Congolese-American to graduate from that program and the first to graduate from my homeschool with a STEM diploma.

I’m still in highschool but I’m taking an engineering pathway class, where we are actually learning programming and sometimes we get to work with power tools/saws. In the first class in the pathway I would get a lot of crap from the guys, telling me to go back in the kitchen and make them a sandwich, and stereotypical jokes like that. It’s frustrating but I think it’s worth it to stand these ignorant boys so I can become an aerospace engineer and surpass them, becoming the person I know I can be. I’ve learned that I can’t stop them from being the way they are but I can 100% how I take the insults and jokes, and that it doesn’t affect me anymore. In the STEM field, women have to ban together, we should have each others backs and have confidence in ourselves🙂

Ok but do these women not know how to report people? I would have recorded that professor saying those sexist things and reported it to the school board. If no action was taken then threaten to sue the school. As for those coworkers making remarks like that report them to HR you even have the text messages as proof. More women need to speak up about this kind of thing! They rather "not cause as fuss" and other bull like that but these types of men NEED to have repercussions for their actions.

girl power

I am a young Design Engineer (mechanical) and I was lucky enough to find a workplace that is extremely supportive and encourages me to push myself and solve our department’s problems. I understand some of the ideas expressed in this video, but I do want to voice that you do fit at a company you just have to find the right one :)

I know a LOT of female engineers. I also work at a university and in the engineering school it's like 60% female... Downer that these were your experiences.

As a women in going into engineering and working at a company where I am the only female it is nice to hear that I am not the only person who experiences these things. My male coworkers just don't get it.

College is for adults yet it’s filled with people who act like children smh 😠

every indian tech guy or girls says the same thing, cuz their parents told them to pick it

I’m frustrated that this video perpetuates the stereotypes that you have to be “naturally inclined” towards engineering or math to become an engineer. So many women are intimidated by the field because of that stereotype....

I appreciate these videos🙌

I'm currently a senior high school student and I'm aspire to become a programmer !! I hope I'll become successful someday just like these women. They inspire me ^^

An apprenticeship is the best route. I did 4 yrs in cnc aerospace and have earned more money and respect than most of my other female graduate friends. I have also been able to travel worldwide with my job. There is a major shortage in this skillset. I am 38 and the youngest on my shop floor. Average age is 60! The hardest part physically is a 6am start. The guys treat me like their equal as I put in my time and it's fun. Any other women thinking about cnc that have any questions feel free to reply. University is another option but the job market is very limited. We have on average over 500 graduates applying for every 1 position available. We have to wait 6 months to try and get a competent replacement cnc turner. The money keeps going up as the demand just isn't met. A lot of companies are sponsoring apprentices in their 3rd or 4th year to achieve a degree to get them in the door as well.

Gosh, I needed to hear this today. Thanks ladies! I am also an engineer and having it rough at the moment 😊

i feel like i had the opposite experience, at my college theres a lot of girls in my computer science classes. ive also had guys tell me that i am better than them in my computer science classes and at coding.

I just got a job as a surface scientist at a memory-based semiconductor facility and I’m terrified of this....it’s good to know that there’s support and some great advice out there. I’m generally blind to the comments and blatant disrespect but I’m starting to become more aware of them

I studied in engineering uni. I have lots of female engineer friends. none of this kind of sexism ever happened. is sexism an American thing?

Im a civil engineer in transportation with a minor in environmental engineer and being woman and latina/hispanic makes much harder to keep working to get the same respect as male engineers or workers but this pushes me to work harder

*Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.*

I edit my emails to make sure it’s not too direct. It’s ridiculous what women have to put up with!

This was very reassuring to hear as a computer networking major.

As a female engineer in the industry right now, I got VERY excited to see this title, however, I think it actually had the opposite effect of what they were going for. While the things these women were talking about do happen and you should be prepared for that, it is not so common as they make it seem. When applying for jobs and applying for schools, always keep in mind the M/F ratio and what the environment is like. I had no negative experiences being one of 3 female Mechanical Engineers in my graduating class. And no negative experiences being a woman in the engineering workforce. PLEASE do NOT let this video deter you. Sorry for the rant haha thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

I like seeing these other Female Engineer I am a Computer Engineer student who also happens to be a woman of color :) so inspirational