Conference Session

Focus on High School Girls in Engineering

Collection

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Porche, Wellesley Center for Women; Jennifer Grossman, Wellesley Center for Women; Anne Noonan, Salem State College; Peter Wong, Tufts University

Tagged Divisions

Women in Engineering

. Continual support throughfinancial incentives and mentorship are important as well as delivering positive messages thattranscend gender stereotypes and emphasize engineering’s ability to help people and to becompatible with family life. Frome et al.20 found that “leaks” in the STEM pipeline were relatedto young women’s perceptions of a lack of occupational flexibility in STEM that would interferewith being able to balance family and career. Pitching engineering to girls must be done in athoughtful and consistent manner within the systems of influence surrounding the student. Educators at the high school and college level and practicing engineers can work togetherlocally to support the development of a community and culture in which there are