Ethics In An Engineering Workplace

When people think of unethical behavior in the professional engineering field, they may imagine engineers engaging in dishonesty and claiming that streets, bridges, and other structures are safe for use when they’re really not. They’re not keeping the health and safety of the public in mind. But unethical behavior can start before an object or structure is even created.

Professional engineering is a predominantly male field. Any woman who decides to become an engineer is doing so at their own risk. It’s not easy. Engineering is a man’s field and many male engineers treat women poorly.

Women are often seen as beneath men. Men may insinuate that women cannot possibly do the same job because of their gender. Well, that’s not true at all. All engineers have the same responsibilities, regardless of gender. They must be technically proficient, focused on quality, and of course, ethics-minded.

Ethics has to do with morality, and moral principles aren’t limited to the project itself. It also involves how a person treats others, and men don’t always treat women with respect in the workplace, unfortunately. They may harass women, use questionable language, and display sexually explicit images of women. These actions are not acceptable in a professional setting.

Men need to be aware of not using gendered language when women are in the office. Women should not be treated as inferior or as simply assistants. These women have the same education and experience (or possibly/ even more) as the men and should be treated as such. Avoid using phrases such as “Why aren’t you smiling?,” “It’s so nice to see a woman here,” or “Who takes care of your kids when you travel?” Also, never assume a woman is pregnant, never tell her that her job is to look pretty, and never tell her that she is not a professional. Women belong in the engineering field just as much as men.

Nevertheless, sexism is rampant even in high school. Male students and even teachers may even make girls feel inferior, discouraging them from pursuing engineering careers. Because of this, schools and engineering firms need to do their part to encourage diversity. Women do belong in engineering, regardless of what others may think.

If you are a woman interested in engineering, do what makes you happy. Speak up, stand up for what you believe in, and don’t worry about what others say about you.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Professional Engineers Licensing Lawyer 

Ethics is important in engineering and unethical behavior can stem from gender differences and biases when a woman joins a predominantly male company.

If you have been accused of unethical behavior, a Tampa professional engineers licensing lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can help you with your case. David Rankin has represented more than 100 professional engineers before the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. To schedule a consultation, call (813) 968-6633 or fill out the online form.

Source:

enr.com/articles/54795-engineering-while-female-how-i-cope-with-sexism