Motivations to choose engineering; perspectives of young women engineers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

From its inception to today, engineering has been a profession in which male engineers dominate. Although technology and education have developed to a higher level, there can still be seen a hesitation among young female students to choose engineering as their future career. The masculine nature of the engineering profession is further reinforced with the belief that engineering is not meant for women but men. Numerous factors like balancing worklife conflicts, existing discriminatory practices on women engineers, lack of role models, and the demanding nature of the engineering profession have demotivated young female students to choose engineering and young female engineers to sustain in the engineering profession. Still, the literature is not saturated with studies on women engineers who could sustain in the gendered industries in various contexts. Hence, this study aims to investigate the perception of the self-confidence of young women engineers in the Sri Lankan context and to recommend staying strategies for future women engineers based on their industrial experience, which will motivate young female students to choose engineering. A self-administered questionnaire comprised of several close-ended questions with five-point Likert-type responses and an open-ended question was designed to achieve this study's objectives. It was circulated among a conveniently selected sample of 250 young women engineers in Sri Lanka via email & Facebook. 82 responses were received. Responses for Likert-type questionnaires were analyzed using a simple graphical method, while open-ended responses were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Analysis revealed that most respondents were confident in discharging their duties as women engineers. Further, they recommended that future women who wish to become engineers should choose the engineering discipline wisely, be passionate, and be dedicated to the engineering profession if they want to sustain themselves in it. The findings of this study will motivate and guide future young women engineers to succeed in the profession.