The proportion of women receiving technical training is increasing, as well as the number entering the workforce. Organizations are attracting more technically-trained women. It is important to learn how the technical careers of women are different from the technical careers of men. Much is known about the technical careers of men, and most of the literature is geared toward ways of treating a largely male technical work force. Generalizations made from studies of a male technical workforce cannot be applied to a female technical work force.
Separate research is needed.
The profession needs to understand experiences of female technical employees. Pairs are closely matched in present positions. Women, if married, are more likely to have husbands in professional fields, particularly in science and engineering. Men are more likely to have wives with either no occupation outside the home, or with lesser professional and white-collar jobs. Such sibling positions have often been seen as related to high achievement for women.