Jason Ford

Public considers engineering a 'male profession', says IMechE

News

The majority of the public still consider engineering as a ‘male’ profession, according to a new survey from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

According to the survey, 66 per cent of the public associate the term ‘engineer’ more with men, with just over a quarter (27 per cent) saying they associated the term equally with men and women.

Poll results show that 40 per cent of the public think the current image of engineering is deterring women from the profession, compared with 21 per cent saying it is deterring both men and women.

The findings coincide with the appointment of the Institution’s new president Group Captain Mark Hunt, who intends to encourage greater diversity during his tenure.

‘I want to use my year as President to demonstrate what engineers have to offer society, and to broaden public awareness of how engineers are improving the world we live in,’ he said in a statement. ‘I also want to help galvanise action to inspire the next generation of engineering innovators and work hard to encourage more diversity in the industry.

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.  

Benefits of registering

  • In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends

  • Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year

  • Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox

Register
Or continue by

Signing in with your registered email address