[Opinion] Women Scientists

A freshman would say, “Girls who major in engineering aren’t any different from everyone else.” A sophomore would say, “It depends on how hard you work.” A junior would say, “Is it too late to change majors?” A senior would say, “I should look for companies that want engineering majors.”

A college reporter posted on the Internet about the plight of girls who are engineering majors yesterday. The percentage of female students majoring in engineering has increased from 1 percent to 10 percent in the last 20 years, but society is still stuck in the past. From studying and laboratory work to employment, female engineering majors face some major difficulties.

In 2004, during the general election, the Grand National Party (GNP) suggested a top position be offered to the director of SK Telecom, Yoon Songyee (32), but was refused. It was a move on the GNP’s part to change its antiquated image by setting “Assemblywoman Yoon Songyee” up as a symbol of femininity and youth. To an engineer, however, whose mission was to “make the cell phone a warm friend instead of a cold machine,” politics represented a deviant path. Instead of using female scientists as poster women, what the political world should do is show greater interest in policies fostering future female scientists and engineers.

In an international symposium held at Ewha Woman’s University on November 7, the problem of the dearth of women in engineering and technology compared to other areas was discussed. Engineering needs the creativity and quick thinking of women. Many practical ideas applicable to real life come from women. But the fact remains that around the world, there is an inadequacy of women in these fields.

In the book, “Female Engineers Change the World,” published by Thinking Tree Publishing Co., famous women engineers all exclaim, “Engineering belongs to men? That’s a stereotype.”

As the first female president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Patricia Galloway (50) reminisced about supervising a tunnel construction project in an interview held in 1970. The construction company refused to work with a woman in charge before the disconcerted field manager solved the problem by replying, “Then we’ll just have to change the construction company.” She points out that confidence, communication skills, and devotion are the keys to a woman’s success. She encouraged women to, “Never limit yourself just because you’re a woman.”

Editorial Writer Hong Gwon-hee, konihong@donga.com