<p>There exists subtle gender bias in physics, chemistry, and biology. ([Science</a> faculty?s subtle gender biases favor male students](<a href=“http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/14/1211286109.full.pdf+html?with-ds=yes]Science”>http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/14/1211286109.full.pdf+html?with-ds=yes)) I can’t imagine that engineering is immune to the same effect, which shows up as a female candidate being considered less qualified than an identical-but-for-name male candidate. Note that this biased perception is extremely similar to the “girls have an advantage in admissions” discussion, which often has the (spoken or unspoken) assumption that less-qualified girls are admitted over more-qualified boys, despite the fact that at least one admissions officer on CC says it’s because the female applicant pool is better qualified than the male applicant pool.</p>
<p>As discussed in the linked article, students evaluate themselves based on the feedback they get from others. Someone who’s told they’re less-qualified than others in the program, who is less likely to be encouraged to stick with it, and who’s offered lower-paying jobs is less likely to stay in any given profession than is the person who’s given a higher rating, more mentoring, and more money.</p>
<p>OHMomof2, IMHO if your daughter wants to go into S, then she probably shouldn’t be looking for E schools. But there are boys looking at E schools who aren’t tinkerers, and if you go over to the Engineering Majors board, they get plenty of encouragement. If your D wants to be an engineer, tell her to go for it. And to expect to struggle and work long hours, and to be aware that it’s not just her that isn’t finding it easy.</p>