Teresa hesitated to give advice about what to do when you're thinking about leaving. She had those concerns about putting the onus on women, which I got. But if you find yourself in a situation where you think the doors are closing in the faces of people because of their gender or their skin color that should be irrelevant, then it is up to you to say something about it. You know, you're on your way out anyway,. An exit interview is a great, great opportunity to tell them this.
Being treated like an outsider. Feeling like you have to prove yourself. Struggling to make your voice heard. Whether it’s overt discrimination or more subtle forms of bias, male-dominated industries like engineering can pose challenges for women. Research shows that even well-meaning mentors direct female engineers into less technical, less valued roles. It’s no wonder so many women end up leaving the industry.
We talk to a professor and two students at Olin College of Engineering about their experiences working among mostly men, what it means to “play nice,” and how male colleagues can help (listen!). Then we talk to an expert about how to evaluate a company’s gender culture before you accept a job and how to stay true to your career goals when other people think they know what’s best for you.
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Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.