Women's Reasons for Leaving the Engineering Field.
Nadya A Fouad1, Wen-Hsin Chang1, Min Wan2
1Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, MilwaukeeWI, United States.
Women leave engineering due to poor compensation, difficult work-life balance, and lack of advancement opportunities. Understanding these factors is key to improving retention for women in STEM fields.
Area of Science:
- Engineering and Technology
- Social Sciences
- Workforce Studies
Background:
- Engineering has high attrition rates, with women leaving the field at higher rates than men.
- Existing research has not fully elucidated the specific reasons behind women's departure from engineering professions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and categorize the primary reasons why women leave engineering.
- To apply the Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA) to understand the person-environment fit in relation to women's career decisions in engineering.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of 1,863 statements from 1,464 women who left engineering.
- Utilized a person-environment fit theoretical lens, specifically the Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA).
Main Results:
- Key reasons for departure include: 1) Inequitable compensation and poor working conditions impacting work-family balance. 2) Unmet needs for achievement and skill utilization. 3) Lack of recognition and limited advancement opportunities.
Conclusions:
- Addressing compensation, working conditions, work-life balance, skill utilization, recognition, and advancement is crucial for retaining women in engineering.
- Findings provide insights for developing targeted interventions to improve women's engagement and retention in STEM careers.
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