Women represent less than three percent of engineering faculty and all indications are that the proportion of women in faculty positions is decreasing at a time when there is a critical shortage of engineering faculty. Qualitative interviews with ten women employed as faculty at two research universities were conducted. Findings indicate they were products of enriched environments and were influenced in their career choice by their fathers. All saw themselves as unusual in some way and described their educational experiences as enriched. The deviance theory, one that states women who chose nontraditional careers reject traditional family roles, was not supported. Participants successfully combined careers with family responsibilities and had partners in similar careers. Participants' partners were supportive. Findings indicate that participants enjoyed their academic careers, especially the freedom to conduct research of their own choosing. While adequately prepared for their roles as researchers and grant writers, they lacked needed formal training in teaching. Further findings indicate they exhibited token behaviors. Although they were highly visible, they attempted to diminish their visibility so as not to pose a threat to male colleagues. They were isolated and did not openly align themselves with feminist causes. They did not experience sexual harassment nor feel they had been seriously discriminated against in their careers. Participants suffered from concerns about their self-image and feared others would perceive they were hired because of gender rather than competence. While few had or needed same-sex role models while in school they willingly served as role models for students. It was concluded that comprehensive changes in all levels of education are needed if the numbers of girls interested in engineering careers is to increase. Systemic changes in how girls are treated in the classroom and how women faculty are supported once hired are needed if a critical mass of women faculty is to be achieved and their influence felt.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-9001 |
| Date | 01 January 1994 |
| Creators | Nielsen, Kay Anne |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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