The number of American women who earn science and engineering degrees has unexpectedly reached a plateau, after a steady increase from 1960 to 1980. However, it is still far lower than the number of men. Only about one-third as many women as men choose science when they enter college, and a much smaller percentage get a Ph.D. and find a job in a technical field. There are several factors that seem to discourage women from entering and staying in science and engineering professions during the past two decades. The Stereotypic Scientist.
Science is portrayed negatively, and the scientist is portrayed as a nerd.
Science appears to be incompatible with the femininity of women. Textbook Portrayals of Scientists and Engineers. Rarely are the scientists and engineers mentioned or pictured in textbooks female. Publishers have failed to integrate the few photographs of women, blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities with the text. The Special Problems of Engineering.