Doctoral student and junior researcher at TalTech
A woman can be a better engineer than a man, but women could use more confidence, says Katriin Kristmann, a doctoral student and junior researcher at TalTech.
This article was originally published in Postimees.
Last summer, the film Barbie captivated audiences, featuring Margot Robbie and other stars taking on the problems of Barbie-world in various professions and outfits. Unlike in the 1960s, when the Barbie doll first set out to conquer the world, today its role in a girl’s toy drawer has changed. Barbie is no longer just a model, flight attendant, babysitter, or shop assistant. Barbie is now an astronaut, an engineer, a developer, a roboticist, and a scientist. But do girls really want to see and play out these roles? Or do young women, when considering a career in engineering, see mostly obstacles ahead?
One of the film’s most talked-about moments was a monologue by a character named Gloria — “being a woman is impossible.” A woman must be both a mother and a career professional; her home must be spotless, and professionally she must be a sensation, invited to TED Talks around the world — yet she must also be home every night to tuck her children into bed. That does sound like a bit much. But whether we, as women, accept these demands or not is up to us. The role of women in the world is changing, and the generation of young women making career choices today are the trailblazers — they are the ones who must define what kind of role we want for women in society.
When I chose my university major, I had to look at both my grades and my interests. The easiest subjects, the ones I never had to study for, were Estonian and English — sometimes even German. The most unpleasant (and difficult) subject seemed to be physics, especially electricity. Still, I felt that going into languages or philology would be too easy and boring, and skills in the humanities seemed obvious to me — ah, the boundless confidence of an 18-year-old! Today, I’m pursuing a PhD in renewable energy and materials science, and I’ve ended up learning that same electricity I once thought I should avoid. I’m very glad I chose a field that challenges me, rather than staying in my safe and comfortable zone.
At TalTech’s School of Engineering, women made up only 24% of students in bachelor’s and professional higher education programmes during the past academic year. The situation was slightly better at the master’s and integrated levels, where women accounted for 36%. Is that something to be considered positive? Compared to a few years ago, certainly — but in the long run, the share should be much higher.
Friends have told me that female engineers often have to assert themselves more at work. Luckily, I haven’t faced such issues personally, though I’ve found myself at conferences, seminars, or receptions where I’ve been almost the only woman in the room. I’m so glad that the few women in engineering support each other and stand united to strengthen the ground beneath our feet! Women sometimes have to endure (usually older) men’s pointed attention and remarks like “Sweetie,” “Dear,” or “Honey.” Changing customs and habits takes time — if women made up the majority in the room, those words wouldn’t be said!
Just to clarify: when I say “engineers,” I mean people working in fields like construction, robotics, software, materials, electronics, mechanics, aviation, and everything in between. Estonia needs female engineers not to meet quotas, but because women are fully capable of engineering — and bring tremendous added value to the field. I have no doubt that a woman can be just as intelligent — or even a better engineer — than a man. But I must agree that women sometimes have less of one particular trait: confidence. The confidence to kick the door open, to assert their will, to convince everyone that their opinion is the right one — women sometimes have a little less of that. I do too. But confidence can be trained.
A successful engineer is detail-oriented yet able to see the big picture. They understand the opinions of others but know when they are right. They’re ready to get their hands dirty and do the job themselves if needed. They take responsibility for their work and inspire others through their dedication. I think I’ve just described a pretty perfect woman.
Be brave — choose engineering, choose challenges, choose to be a trailblazer!
