1. By: Brittany Hill, The Recorder
Women in Science:We’ve Got Our Ion You
In a country where discrimination continues to exist in the workplace, it is no wonder why young
women at Central Connecticut State University gear towardsstudying certain subjects over others.
Although women dominate majors such as psychology, biology andart education, male students
represent the vast majority of Central’s Engineering department.
“I think currently women are being encouragedby professorsto continue pursuing engineering
degrees,” says RossBurton, an Engineering major at CCSU. “Althoughthe numbers are low, all of my
professorshave encouragedthem.”
Those numbers are at a staggering low, indeed.
Accordingto Central’s Institutional Researchand Assessment, the MechanicalEngineering
Technology major had 173 menand only six women enrolledlast fall. 76 men and 10 women were
enrolled in the Civil Engineering major, and only three women comparedto the 26 men enrolled in
the Technology andEngineering Education K-12 major.
However, these numbers are no different than those of the next university. A study done by the
National Science Foundation in 2008 found that there were four times as many men than women
who graduated with an Engineering degree.
“I do believe that it [also] helps when female students see that there are other female students in the
program,” says Michele Dischino, one of the few female Engineering professorsat Central. “Not so
much because they’re afraidthey’llbe discriminated against, but more so because people oftenlook
to bond with someone like themselves.”
Although factorssuchas personal interestsor naturally obtained skills contribute to the growing
number of women who enroll in social science majors, women consider possible issues when
working amidst a male-dominated environment such as a lack of accommodationsto family needs,
unequal pay when comparedto their male counterpart, or sexual harassment; all of which can be
discouraging or enough of a reason to pursue a more suitable career.

2. “I think that one of the primary reasons why women aren’t choosing to go into engineering is because
they don’t think it will be interesting or meaningful,” says Dischino.
Yale University publisheda study in August 2012 to examine the ever-existent discriminationof
female students by science faculty. Furthermore, whether this bias may contribute to the gender gap
that exists in science academia today. The double-blindedstudy took applicants of 63 men and 64
women with the exact same qualificationsfor a laboratory manager position based on three aspects;
the students’ competence, salary prospectsreflectingone’spotential, and how much faculty
mentoring the student deserves.
The results said it all. Female applicants were viewedless hirable and less competent than the male
applicants. The average salary offeredto females was $26,507.94comparedto the males’ average
salary offeredat $30,238.10.
“We are not suggesting that these biases are intentional or stem from a consciousdesire to impede
the progress of women in science. Past studies indicate that people’sbehavior is shaped by implicit
or unintended biases, stemming fromrepeated exposure to pervasive culturalstereotypesthat
portray women as less competent,” the study reassuredreaders.
Although Central is no different than the current state of our nation, it is no excuse for its
continuation. Men outweigh the women in all Engineering majors offeredat Central. However, there
are some Engineering majors offeredelsewhere that generally have a more equal turnout.
“Biomedical Engineering programs, which Central doesn’t currently offer, tendto have an even
number of male and female students,” saysDischino. “AndI actually think that gets at the heart of
the problem – no pun intended.”