Major Decisions Affect Women for the Rest of Their Lives

Linda Hirshman got it right in her June 3 Outlook article, “You’re Not Earning as Much as the Guys? Here’s Why.” Female engineers make much more than women who select other majors, and part of the reason women aren’t selecting engineering as a major is because the role “models” the media offers are scarily thin reality show competitors. Several organizations, such as the Society of Women Engineers in collaboration with the Girl Scouts, are putting role models out there for young girls, their parents, and teachers. But we need the media to help us out.

So kudos to the Post Magazine for featuring Jenny Donaldson, an excellent role model, on June 3. According to Caitlin Gibson’s article “Engineering the Future,” Donaldson, an aerospace engineering student, attends Montgomery College because she can afford it. Interestingly, another article in the Magazine described a trip to pricey colleges where the young man’s fate was to move back home after college and work at a low-end job. But when Donaldson graduates, she will be able to support herself very well.

However it’s not just about the money. In the “Making It” column in the Magazine on June 3, Paul Gonzalez’s background in engineering gave him the experience to design systems and processes, which enabled him to start his own business. And that gives him the power to control his own lifestyle and make a difference in people's lives.

A version of this Letter to the Editor appeared on the Washington Post's web site on June 6, 2007.