I haven’t waded through this whole thread, but I can say that the world of engineering can be a mixed bag for a lot of women. Engineers are often guys who don’t exactly have the best social skills. They’re often myopic in their frame of reference. Part of it is their demanding education which leaves little time for socializing and taking enriching humanities classes. Many are frankly – dare I say it? – boring. Many are sexist. Many are downright hostile to a woman who’s a peer or maybe - gasp - better than they are. And I say this as someone who comes from a family of engineers: I’m the daughter of 2 engineers, the step-daughter of a 3rd engineer and the sister of 3 engineers. My mother and sister, both of whom had very successful careers that began as engineers, boy, do they have stories. My tough mother – who was among the first women hired at a key department of an internationally renowned American company – stuck it out for 30 years. My sister bagged engineering after 8 years; she went first into management, later getting an MBA and heading up HR at a Fortune 100 manufacturer, where she hoped to make things a little easier for young women entering the field. I asked her if things have changed over the years. She snorted and shrugged, "only on the surface. "