Survival in the academic arena: advice for women faculty

Abstract

The author gives statistics on women in engineering, examines the stereotypes of women at work, and outlines the special problems of professional women. It is noted that women in engineering education programs, both as students and faculty, report relative isolation in educational institutions, as well as in the workplace. It is argued that, to reduce this isolation, institutions and industries should recognize gender-based social standards and stereotypes so that their effects will not influence workplace productivity and worker satisfaction. Since role models for women in engineering can be found in academe, the focus is on that of women faculty in educational institutions.<>