Column for SMT Magazine (June 1999 issue)
"An Address to Women Engineers"
by
Dr. Jennie S. Hwang
In the March issue, this column touched on one of the most prevalent
industry issues that closely affect the technology-based business -
engineering education and workforce. Among some responses, one question
was raised: "How about the role of women in engineering education and
workforce?" It is thought that the excerpts of my recent keynote address
to the Society of Women Engineers - CWRU Chapter perhaps offers a glimpse
into this topic. The audience primarily was composed of women engineering
students and prospects who will enter the workforce within one to four
years.
For last two to three decades, I have worked in the very fast-moving
technology-based and male-dominated environment. Now I look at this
audience - vibrant, beautiful young women full of promise; I feel I have so
many stories to tell and much real-life excursion to share. However, I
have to sum it up in one short sentence about the past two-three decades:
it has been truly a learning, nurturing, and fulfilling experience.
Looking into the future - the future of women engineers, first, let's look
at the big picture - the world and the country. The world is faced with
the new economy that is characterized by changes and uncertainties. The
"newness" enables a high-growth and low-inflation economy that we are
having in U.S. It is amazing that the low interest rate, low unemployment,
healthy consumer spending, and good wage all can happen in confluence.
Most economists finally agree that the economy is indeed going through the
fundamental transformation. This transformation is fueled by three
elements - technology, innovation, and globalization. As a result, a
profound increase in productivity has materialized in almost every sector.
The new economy is also fueled by information and knowledge and the way to use the information and knowledge. Therefore, we may call this new era,
knowledge economy, Internet economy, or technology economy.
It is the technology that has changed the way we learn in school, we do
business, or even we live - toward higher efficiency and fuller and
richer life. Look around the things we use - TV, microwave oven, cell
phone, computer, e-mail, WebPages. All these "good stuff" are incorporated
with the essential principles and practice of science and engineering.
We may define "Science" as the understanding of natural phenomena
and pursuing greater and deeper knowledge; define "Engineering" as taking
discoveries and putting them into practical use for the betterment of life
and society. In the food chain of science-technology-product-society,
engineering is a bridge between science and society, making useful products
available to us. Engineering is a powerful force.
Being an engineer, we constantly face new challenges and opportunities as
well. Coming along with the challenge is an unparalleled reward.
Collectively we can make the world a better place; individually we have the
opportunity to make our mark.
As women engineers, we are aspired with higher self-esteem, motivation,
encouragement, and pride. Over the last two decades women have
made impressive inroads in almost all professions from politics to Academe
to board room to factory. Women make up more than half of the U.S.
population, but female engineers constitute less than 20% in the workforce.
A question has often been asked: Is there a gender gap? This leads to the
question: Are there any real inherent differences between men and women
that contribute to the disparity in men's and women's profession? What
have been the influences of family, school, and society?
A recent brain research seems to suggest: "His brain is different from
hers." It is reported that, on average, males outscore females on tests of
spatial reasoning. Females outscore males on linguistic ability. If our
female colleagues do not agree, all need to do is to prove an excellent
spatial reasoning ability. By the same token, male colleagues just
demonstrate linguistic ability. For some light entertaining value, the
story goes: Male rats have superior spatial ability, allowing them to roam
around and find multiple mates during breeding season and presumably find
their way back home afterwards. Female rats, on the other hand, tend to
hang around home base and wait for males to show up. The males,
unfortunately, are often late because when they do happen to get lost, they
refuse to stop and ask for directions.
The extent of progress made by women differs with the field and the
country. American women have fared well in comparing with the rest of the
world. Business Week (April 19, 1999) reported: under the heading: "Make
way for women with welding guns - Japanese women are winning more rights
and factory jobs." Companies must rely more on women to keep
factories humming. Women still suffer because most were hired
and trained as clerical workers. The revised labor law in Japan
is an important step forward. Because of the ban on sexual discrimination,
companies can no longer advertise positions for men or women.
Japanese women are beginning to hold on to their jobs longer and thus
improve their chances of moving up the ladder.
Another issue close to our heart is work and family. As a mother of two
children and a worker who has dedicated to much more than a "9 to 5" job
for the last 23 years. I will speak on this with personal experience and from the bottom of my heart.
I still vividly remember how hard it was to leave home going on business
trips when my children were young. At this point, I would like to share
with you some of my daughter's notes that I have saved over the years.
Every time I was on a trip, our daughter always "drew" a note and stuck it
in my brief or luggage. Here is: "Dear Mom, I hope you have a nice four
days in California. I really going to miss you. I hope you have a very
safe trip. I really love you and I hope you have a good presentation and
have a lot of people there. Love, Lindi, P. S. Thank you for trying to get
me the porcelain doll!" "Dear Mom, I hope you have nice time in Singapore.
I'm going to miss you for a whole week. I love you very much. I hope you
have a good meeting. And also a safe trip there and back. Try to call us
every day. Will you get me something(s)? Bye, Love, Lindi."
"Dear Mom, I hope you have nice days in Ireland. I wish you didn't have to
go. I will miss you. I love you. P. S. I don't want you to die on the
plane. At this moment, I'm crying, Love Lindi". Now, Lindi, a fabulous
young lady, is a sophomore at Wellesley College.
In contrast, my son Raymond, however, never wrote any notes for my trips.
(Could this suggest some inherent difference between boys and girls?)
Raymond is graduating from MIT and entering Harvard Medical School in fall.
At his first year away from home and in college, he sent me a Happy
Mother's Day card - the front of the card was designed with prints: "It's
Ultra Woman! - super-charged nurturing force! - kitchen commando! -
friend, fortuneteller, fashion coordinator! - brilliant psychologist! -
daring adventures of the late 20th Century!" (A great card designer).
Inside the card, he wrote, "Dear Mom, this card seems to be made for you.
Of course it lacks the business side which you have distinguished yourself
in, but then, that only applies to one mother in the world. I am doing
well in school, an living well. I miss you and home very much. I look
very much forward towards returning home. Happy Mother's Day, Love Ray."
For that and for his appreciation, nothing can be more rewarding to a
mother.
To have both family and a career and to do well in both is the most
demanding task and takes a tremendous effort and planning. Is it feasible
to manage both work and family? We would like to say yes. The success of
work and family lies in a few considerations: We have to use our full
strength, to work with our partners, spouse, and family members to
coordinate and to cooperate; think positively, with a can-do attitude.
Equally important, we should hold pragmatic views and expectations toward
our professors, employers, society, and the country.
We are gathering on the campus. Now let's move back to the basic - that
is education.
Education has been continuously a priority on the national agenda for
recent years. President Clinton, President Bush all have put education
high on the list, particularly education in Science and Math. Women's
great concern for the next generation is whether education is preparing
them well enough for the future. Higher education becomes the engine of
U.S. economy and global economy. It is estimated that 60% of new jobs in
the next two decades will require technology skills. The shortened product
cycle of some "high tech" products, from 9-12 months to 3-6 months is the
vivid evidence of rapid technology evolution. In this information age,
life-long ability to acquire new knowledge becomes a must.
The engineering training certainly not only provides the base for
technology skills but also paves the solid ground for the ability of
continued learning. With continued learning, we will meet the demands in
the technologically challenging new millennium. No time in the history was
nearly as exciting and glorious as it is coming.
Fire up your energy and ambition. Make your determination and make your
dreams come true.
