Women’s Role in the World of Civil Engineering

In today’s modern society, women are free to take up any role they choose. They can be a top-level corporate executive, a well-known surgeon, or even a civil or structural engineer. Women today are just as highly trained and skilled as men. This is why civil engineering companies need to stop and pay attention.

Women Engineers Are Part of the U.S. Workforce, but They Continue to Be in the Minority

If you look at the current numbers, the percentage of women working for civil engineering companies and other engineering firms are still relatively low. According to a report done by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee in 2012, only 14 percent of engineers in the United States are women.

Women Have Been a Valuable Part of Engineering Throughout History

It’s not like women being in the engineering field is anything new. Back when she was working for DuPont, engineer Stephanie Louise Kwolek actually ended up discovering liquid crystalline polymers. Today, this material is now being used to make Kevlar products, which is critical in protecting military troops that are deployed all over the world. For her contribution, Kwolek was awarded the Perkin Medal in 1997 by the American Chemical Society.

Indeed, women have much to offer to engineering and today, civil engineering is said to be the most ideal field for them.

Why Women Can Be Attracted to Civil Engineering

Civil engineering is all about making a difference and that is said to appeal to women a great deal. According to Lani Tan, a project field engineer at Bechtel, women like the idea of being involved in improving sanitation and water supply because it means being able to improve the quality of life for others, including perhaps, their own families.

Today, more women are coming out of engineering schools. It is hoped that more civil engineering companies are ready to give them a chance.