By Subcontractors USA News Provider
More than sixty years ago, when women identified themselves by their marital status, and newspaper help wanted ads placed employment opportunities into separate categories for men and women, a group of more than sixty pioneering women engineers and engineering students gathered to build a national organization. They met in New Jersey, at The Cooper Union’s Green Engineering Camp, on May 27-28, 1950 to officially form the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and to make their way into a profession that did not necessarily welcome them. They did so not out of a desire to agitate or to rock the boat, but rather because they wanted the opportunity to develop their abilities, to give expression to their potential, to contribute to society.
Groups of women engineers and women engineering students had been meeting informally in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, D.C. They understood the value of sharing encouragement and information; of the strength that comes from solidarity with like-minded peers. And they knew that as a group they could accomplish so much more that isolated individuals to make large-scale change, to open the halls of engineering to women.
They were women who swam against the tide of their time. When a survey of women engineers was conducted in 1919, there were only 139 known women engineering or architecture students in U.S. history. The labor shortage during the Second World War did lead some women to explore engineering and pursue technical careers. However, when SWE was founded far less than one percent of working engineers were women, many employers remained skeptical of their abilities, and the general public still considered engineering to be a masculine profession unsuitable for women.
Since its founding, SWE has focused its efforts on introducing young women to careers in engineering, demonstrating to employers and the public the critical role women engineers play in creative teams, and providing support to women engineers as they advance in their careers.
SWE Core Values
Integrity
SWE aspires to the highest level of ethical behavior as evidenced by honesty and dignity in their personal and professional relationships and responsibilities.
Inclusive Environment
SWE embraces diversity in its broadest interpretation and commits to creating an inclusive environment for all of their members and stakeholders. SWE values the contributions of a diverse membership, which enables it to achieve its full potential.
Mutual Support
SWE provides an organization that fosters mentoring, and the development of professional and personal networks.
Professional Excellence
SWE conducts their activities in a professional manner, demonstrating and demanding the highest standards of business practices.
Trust
SWE shares a common definition of success with open, transparent access to common information, building mutual respect and confidence in the competence of those with whom the organization leads, serves and partners with.
SWE stimulates women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity. For more information about the Society of Women Engineers, please visit societyofwomenengineers.swe.org.
