The development of women in engineering has become increasingly critical for South Africa’s engineering industry as it works to meet demands to contribute to the transformation of our economy.

According to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) report, young women only represent 7% – 12% of engineering students in Africa.

Engineering is still seen as a male dominated industry, and the gender disparity has much to do with societal stigma resulting in a general lack of support for women inclined to engineering.

A steady increase of female engineers in South Africa has been recorded since 2006, as reported by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

A holistic approach to the problem

“The battle to grow and develop talent in a sustainable way needs to be looked at holistically.”

“This means that organsiations which are able to identify talent and retain this over time are able to compete more effectively in the market place as a result of the value of insitituional knowledge which is built up,” says Paul Fitzsimons, General Manager of Power and Energy at GIBB, a South African black-owned engineering consulting firm.

At GIBB, women are represented on all tiers of the firm, including directorship. The multi-disciplinary firm is committed to balancing gender and racial disparities in the workplace and this is most evident in GIBB’s Power and Energy Sector.

Ayesha Gabier, an Electrical Technologist and specialist in electrification and reticulation, energy efficiency who has worked at GIBB Engineering for ten years candidly shares her family’s conservative feelings on her decision to pursue an engineering career:

“My mother was completely against me furthering my studies as she believed a woman’s place is in the kitchen. My father on the other hand, was always very supportive throughout my studies and even through my working years.”

Convincing men of your competence

In her college days, Gabier also tutored and held ‘Women in Engineering’ workshops for young school girls who were interested in the multiple facets of studying engineering.

“The biggest hurdle is the actual requirement to first convince male counterparts that your gender doesn’t make you any less of an engineer. The common assumption is that if men don’t know something, it needs to be researched.

“If a woman doesn’t know something, it’s just because she’s a woman. To be taken seriously and equally is still a challenge we female engineers face,” Gabier states as she reinforces the need for women to be bolder.

The evolution and progression of women in engineering has had a notable effect on the industry throughout the years. Quite simply, women in engineering are addressing a global need.

Growth and interest in areas of science and engineering from the female population could be the catalyst for social upliftment, job creation and ultimately, progressive economic development