HISTORY OF WOMEN HISTORY OF WOMEN IN IN

ENGINEERINGENGINEERINGKauser Jahan1, Beena Sukumaran1, Jennifer

Kadlowec2 and Harriet Hartman3

1 Civil and Environmental Engineering

2 Mechanical Engineering

3 Sociology

ObjectivesObjectives

Overview of history of women in science

and engineering in ancient times

Women have made many contributions and

advancements to science and engineering

Women have fought hard to gain equality

Current status of women in engineering

WOMEN OF ANCIENT TIMES

Miriam the AlchemistMiriam the Alchemist Born in Alexandria, Egypt during the 1st or 2nd

century A.D. Developed an early distillation process Developed a high temperature double boiler Inventions used primarily in the process of

trying to turn metals into gold Founded a school of Chemistry in Alexandria

Hypatia of AlexandriaHypatia of Alexandria

Lived in Ancient Egypt from 350-415 A.D.

One of the most respected women of her time Many interests

– Philosophy– Mathematics– Astronomy

Hypatia of AlexandriaHypatia of Alexandria

Inventor– Instrument used in water distillation– Device to measure gravity of water– Planisphere (still used today)

• Shows where constellations will be on any given night

Killed by fanatical Christian Monks who were threatened by her popularity

http://www.malaspina.com/etext/heavens.htm

WOMENS’ RIGHTS

AGE OF REFORM

Seneca Falls Convention of 1848Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 Designed/organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton Convention advocated women’s equality “Declaration of Sentiments” outlined injustices that

women suffered

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Injustices Suffered By WomenInjustices Suffered By Women Married women were legally dead in the eyes of

the law Not allowed to vote No voice in formation of laws

– Had to abide by them Husbands had legal power over and responsibility

for their wives– Could beat and punish their wives without fear of

punishment Divorce and child custody laws favored men

Injustices Suffered By WomenInjustices Suffered By Women Women had to pay property taxes

– no representation in the levying of these taxes Most occupations closed to women

– When women did work, they were paid a fraction of what men earned

Professions such as medicine, engineering or law were denied

No college or university would accept female students

Declaration of SentimentsDeclaration of Sentiments

Document written during the convention that was based on the Declaration of Independence

In the document Stanton wrote,

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

Mary KiesMary Kies May 5, 1809 Recipient of 1st US patent awarded to a

female Developed a method for weaving straw

with silk

WOMEN IN

ENGINEERING

Engineering Education Engineering schools for men were established

with the advent of the Industrial Revolution 1802 USMA, West Point (Military school) 1824, RPI, Troy, NY (Civilian school) 1821 Troy Female Seminary 1837 Mt. Holyoke Seminary 1865 Vassar College 1875 Smith, Wellesley 1885 Bryn Mawr

Age of Reform1840-1860

Equal RightsRight to VoteRights for EducationMorrill Act of 1862

Ellen Henrietta Swallow Ellen Henrietta Swallow RichardsRichards First woman admitted to MIT 1876: Successfully lobbied to open the

Women’s Laboratory at MIT Worked as a Sanitation Chemistry Assistant at MIT

– Tested home furnishings and foods for toxic contaminants

– Investigated water pollution and designed safe sewage systems

1879: First female member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers

Elizabeth BraggElizabeth Bragg

1876: First engineering degree awarded to an American woman– Civil Engineering, UC Berkeley

1884 Kate Gleason, Cornell University• Gear Technology Gleason Works

1892 Elmina Wilson, Iowa State College• First female instructor

1893 Berta Lamme, Ohio State University• Electrical engineering focus

Rosalind Franklin

Born: London, England, July 25, 1920

Died: London, England, April 16, 1958

Pioneer Molecular Biologist

Franklin was responsible for much of the research and discovery work that led to the understanding of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA. The story of DNA is a tale of competition and intrigue, told one way in James Watson's book The Double Helix, and quite another in Anne Sayre's study, Rosalind Franklin and DNA. James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received a Nobel Prize for the double-helix model of DNA in 1962, four years after Franklin's death at age 37 from ovarian cancer.

Maria SklodowskaMaria Sklodowska CurieCurie

First woman to win a Nobel Prize– 1903: Physics

• Discovery of radium and polonium

– 1911: Chemistry• Isolation of radium and its chemical properties

World War I– Believed that X-rays could help locate bullets and

facilitate surgery– Invented X-ray vans and trained 150 female

attendants

Rachel Louise CarsonRachel Louise Carson

1936: First woman to pass the civil service test

U.S. Bureau of Fisheries– Worked as junior biologist– After 15 years, she was the chief editor

of all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Publications Has been called the mother of the modern

environmental movement

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

Society for the Promotion of Society for the Promotion of Engineering EducationEngineering Education

Formed in 1893 Later named American Society for

Engineering Education At the time of formation, only 3 women had

received engineering degrees

American Society of Civil EngineersAmerican Society of Civil Engineers

First woman to address was Emily Warren Roebling, in 1852

Nora Blatch de Forest inducted as “junior member” in 1909.– Was not allowed further advancement– Granddaughter of Cady Stanton

Elsie Eaves became the first female member in 1957

Society of Women Engineers Established in 1950 First President was Beatrice Hicks (chemical engineering) SWE Objectives

– To inform young women, their parents, counselors, and the public in general of the qualifications and achievements of women engineers and the opportunities open to them.

– To assist women engineers in readying themselves for a return to active work after temporary retirement.

– To serve as a center of information on women in engineering. – To encourage women engineers to attain high levels of

educational and professional achievement.

Tau Beta PiTau Beta Pi

Established at Lehigh University in 1885 Limited to men until 1969 Badges were authorized for women as an

alternative to membership– In 84 years, only 619 badges were awarded by

98 chapters

Women were allowed full membership in 1969

Engineering WorkPlace

Only 16% of scientists, 9% of engineers and 4% of computer scientists in the U.S. are women.

Women leave science and engineering careers twice as frequently as men.

Women's salaries in science and engineering lag behind men's by 12 to 15 percent.

* AWSEM

Women in Academia - % of Female Faculty in Engineering

Full Professors 1.4% Associate Professors 6.3% Assistant Professors 13.7%

Female Deans of Engineering CollegesFemale Deans of Engineering Colleges Dr. Eleanor Baum - Cooper Union

Dr. Kristina M. Johnson - Duke University

Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac - Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Janie M. Fouke - Michigan State University

Dr. Dianne Dorland - Rowan University

Dr. Zorica Pantic-Tanner - San Francisco State University Dr. Stacie Swingle Nunes - SUNY-New Paltz Dr. Linda C. Lucas - University of Alabama-Birmingham Dr. Jane C.S. Long - University of Nevada-Reno

Dr. Denice D. Denton - University of Washington Dr. Nancy Jannik - Winona State University Dr. Linda Katehi – Purdue University Dr. Maria Klawe – Princeton University Dr. Belle W. Y. Wei-San Jose State University

CURRENT STATUS

Undergraduate Enrolment in Engineering Programs

Source: NSF

Edith M. FlanigenEdith M. Flanigen

Earned over 102 U.S. patents– Innovations in petroleum refining and research

Made gasoline production cleaner and safer Same filtering devices used to purify water

and clean up the environment Elected to the National Academy of

Engineering

Why do we have lower numbers of women in Engineering?

Gender differences in preparation for science and mathematics

Lack of female role models Lack of Advancement

Glass Ceiling in the Management

Lack of Mentoring Guidance and Encouragement from peers

Lack of Training Opportunities

Family Issues

Acknowledgements

Crystal Mattson, Sophomore in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rowan University

Betty Reynolds and Jill Tietjen (2001) “Setting the Record Straight: The History and Evolution of Women’s Professional Achievement in Engineering”, White Apple Press.