Women in Technology

Mrs. Joanne MacFawn Trombley
Technology Education Teacher
West Chester Area School District

I was somewhat surprised to receive a request to serve on the TEAP Journal Advisory Board as a representative for Women in Technology.  After all, this is 1999 and women have made huge strides in many previously male-dominated fields over the past thirty years.  Sadly, though, Technology Education is not one of them.  Sure, our classes are co-ed and required at the middle school level, but most high school level classes still have many more males than females.  At the college level, we see a small number of young women, but few of them become Technology Education teachers.  Why is that the case and, more importantly, what can we do about it? 

We are not surprised to see female lawyers, doctors, business owners and scientists. Although occupations requiring significant physical strength have fewer women, it’s no longer unusual to see female firefighters, police officers and construction workers.  Being a Technology Education teacher does not require much physical strength – if it did, I wouldn’t be one!

So, why do women constitute less than one percent of this field of work?  Nobody is suggesting that all fields of employment should be 50% women and 50% men.  Certainly that would be an unrealistic goal, but we should question a huge discrepancy.  We owe it to our students to ask ourselves if we are providing equal opportunity and equal encouragement to all. 

Do we, as Technology Education teachers, suggest our profession as a potential line of work to both girls and boys in our classes?  Interest is certainly a major factor in career selection.  Let’s put more effort into positively affirming students who exhibit high interest in our classes.  As teachers, we are in an excellent position to plant seeds for future choices.  Let’s not miss any opportunities.

It is my hope that through my Women in Technology position on the TEAP Journal Advisory Board I will be able to work to address this perplexing situation and develop ways to increase the percentage of women in Technology Education.  I challenge each of you to contribute.  Please send me a note about how you encourage females in your classes and include your ideas on how we could do better.  Articles about women in technology are being solicited for future journal issues.  Please consider writing one.

Together, we can change the face of our profession to one that is more diversified.  At this time of a serious Technology Education teacher shortage, getting more women in this field will be a win-win situation for all!

Please send notes and articles (if possible, on a PC disk using MS Word) to:

Joanne MacFawn Trombley
470 Indian Run Road
Glenmoore, PA 19343

You may call me at home at (610) 942-7096 or at school at (610) 436-7243.