CHICAGO, Aug. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The world’s largest advocate for women in engineering, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), will ring the Nasdaq opening bell today at 9:15 a.m. ET in an effort to bring more attention to global diversity and inclusion and the need for stronger initiatives to support women and minorities in the workforce. SWE’s CEO and Executive Director, Karen Horting, CAE, will lead the charge, addressing the room with 50 of her peers and SWE members from the region who will also be present.
Only 13 percent of engineers are women and on average, female engineers earn 10 percent less than male engineers. Approximately 21 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science are awarded to women.
“The opportunity to represent women in engineering and technology across the globe is an honor for the Society, me and the SWE members who will stand up at the podium,” said Horting. “We need to bring more attention to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We need to change the perception of what an engineer looks like to get more women in engineering. And, we need to change the operational dynamics of the engineering workforce to keep more women engineers and leaders there. A diverse workforce results in greater adaptability, varying viewpoints, broader service range, increased innovation and an improved bottom line.”
Implicit gender and racial biases are impacting the engineering profession, affecting decisions in hiring, promotions and compensation. The SWE study, Climate Control: Gender and Racial Bias in Engineering, identified four basic patterns of bias that suggest workplace climate is tougher for women and people of color as compared with white men. Among the respondents, women and people of color were more likely than white men to report that they felt they needed to prove themselves more to get the same levels of respect and recognition as their colleagues. In addition, white men were more likely than women and people of color to report that they could behave assertively in the workplace without pushback. Women and engineers of color were also more likely than white men to report doing more “office housework” such as finding a time everyone can meet, taking notes and planning office parties.
Implicit bias is likely one of the reasons women and minorities ultimately leave the engineering workforce.
To lead a charge for increased diversity and inclusion in the workforce, SWE partners with hundreds of engineering and technology organizations including Nasdaq traded companies Apple, Dell, Intel, Target, TI, Google, FedEx and PepsiCo, among many others. These join over 75 other organizations in sitting on SWE’s Corporate Partnership Council, participating in SWE events and recruiting SWE members for jobs. Nasdaq will be exhibiting at WE18, SWE’s conference and career fair, Oct. 18-20, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minn. WE18 is one of the largest events for women in engineering, attracting more than 14,000 attendees. Women at all stages of their careers will take advantage of networking, education and professional development, while engineering and technology organizations benefit from recruiting qualified individuals at the WE18 Career Fair.
SWE is a network of 40,000+ women engineers across the globe. Joining SWE provides access to community support for women in STEM from K-12, collegiates, professionals and retirees; education, development and resources for professional and personal advancement; leadership training; mentorship and comradery. To learn more about SWE and membership benefits, and to join SWE, visit swe.org/membership.
To view the Nasdaq bell ceremony live, visit https://livestream.com/nasdaq/live
About SWE
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. The not-for-profit educational and service organization is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. To ensure SWE members reach their full potential as engineers and leaders, the Society offers unique opportunities to network, provides professional development, shapes public policy and provides recognition for the life-changing contributions and achievements of women engineers. As a champion of diversity, SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in their personal and professional lives. For more information about the Society please visit www.swe.org or call 312.596.5223.
About Nasdaq
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global provider of trading, clearing, exchange technology, listing, information and public company services. Through its diverse portfolio of solutions, Nasdaq enables customers to plan, optimize and execute their business vision with confidence, using proven technologies that provide transparency and insight for navigating today's global capital markets. As the creator of the world's first electronic stock market, its technology powers more than 90 marketplaces in 50 countries, and 1 in 10 of the world's securities transactions. Nasdaq is home to approximately 3,900 total listings with a market value of approximately $13 trillion. To learn more, visit: http://business.nasdaq.com.