History Women in engineering

the history of women designers , builders of machines , structures predates development of engineering trade. prior creation of term engineer in 11th century, women had contributed technological advancement of societies around globe, including hypatia of alexandria (350 or 370–415 ad), credited invention of hydrometer. 19th century, women participated in engineering work had academic training in mathematics or science. ada lovelace privately schooled in mathematics before beginning collaboration charles babbage on analytical engine earn designation of first computer programmer. in years of 20th century, greater numbers of women began admitted engineering programs, looked upon anomalies men in departments.

the first university award engineering’s bachelor’s degree women university of california, berkeley. elizabeth bragg recipient of bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1876, becoming first female engineer in united states. prior 19th century, rare women earn bachelor’s degree in field because did not have opportunity enroll in universities due gender disparities. universities started admit women colleges 1800s , mid-1800s started admit them academic programs including engineering.

the entry of united states world war ii created serious shortage of engineering talent in country men drafted armed forces. address shortage, initiatives ge on-the-job engineering training women degrees in mathematics , physics , curtiss-wright engineering program among others created new opportunities women in engineering. curtiss-wright partnered cornell, penn state, purdue, university of minnesota, university of texas, rensselaer polytechnic institute, , iowa state university create engineering curriculum lasted ten months , focused on aircraft design , production.

during time, since female representation in engineering field, there barely public attacks on women. chiefly, these attacks kept quiet inside institutions due fact women did not pressure aggressively shift gender gap between men , women in engineering field. reason why these “attacks” kept private due how men believed impossible engineering stop being male-dominated field.

women’s roles in workforce, in engineering fields changed during post-world-war-ii period. women started marry @ later ages, have fewer children, divorce more , stopped depending on male breadwinners economic support, started become more active in engineering labor force despite fact salaries less men’s.

women played crucial role in programming eniac construction during world war ii period through next several decades. recruited army in 1943, female eniac programmers made considerable advancements in programming techniques, such invention of breakpoints, standard debugging tool.

in addition wartime shortage of engineers, women made inroads in engineering fields due gradual increase in public universities admitting female students. example, georgia tech began admit women engineering students in 1952, while École polytechnique in paris, premier french engineering institution, began admit female students in 1972.