International Women's Day: Real Talk About Women in Engineering
International Women’s Day is here, and instead of just posting some lip service like many others, I wanted to offer something of real substance and value.
First, a huge thank you to the brilliant Emma Johnstone for sharing her insights with me. Emma is a fantastic engineer and incredibly passionate about making the engineering world more inclusive and supportive. We covered a lot of ground, including women in engineering, her personal experiences, surviving longer than five years in STEM, what companies can do to attract and retain women, and how recruiters can play a role.
Key Takeaways from Our Conversation
Women in Engineering Are Still Underrepresented: Emma was one of just ten women in her graduating Structural Engineering class of 80. That stat alone speaks volumes about the gender imbalance in engineering.
Sexism in Engineering is Still a Reality: Emma has faced inherent biases throughout her career, such as:
- Being expected to take notes in meetings simply because she’s a woman.
- Clients addressing male colleagues when she was the lead in the meeting.
- Being told she wouldn’t be taken seriously unless she stopped smiling so much.
- Being called 'sweetheart' by contractors and fellow engineers.
- Being told to “demonstrate emotional resilience” because she cried once.
Men Need to Be Open to Conversations: Instead of trying to minimise or ‘fix’ things, men in the industry need to acknowledge and understand women’s experiences. Sometimes, listening is the most powerful thing you can do.
Leadership Needs More Women: If your company has no women in leadership, it’s time to change that. If promoting internally isn’t possible right now, provide avenues for junior female engineers to connect with industry leaders through organisations like Engineers Australia or NAWIC NSW (National Association of Women in Construction).
Encouragement Starts Early: Schools and universities play a crucial role in getting more girls into STEM and keeping them engaged. Companies wanting to hire more women should partner with universities to create a smoother transition into the workforce.
Recruiters Can Help Bridge the Gap: Recruiters should actively listen to female engineers about their experiences and what kind of workplace environment is important to them. They should also encourage hiring managers to openly discuss equality and diversity in interviews so that everyone is aligned from the start.
Raising the Next Generation: Emma also reminded me of the importance of teaching my daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to. That being said, maths is not my strong suit—so if she’s interested in engineering, I might be giving Emma a call for some tutoring!
Creating Lasting Change
International Women’s Day is a great reminder to have these conversations, but real change happens when these principles become embedded in company culture year-round.
Here’s to hoping we’re one year closer to a more equal and inclusive industry—for my daughter and for all women in engineering.
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