<p>I am not black, hispanic, a female or even an engineer but…
Maybe these specialized societies are not about you. Gasp. It’s interesting how the posts critiquing them have managed to turn these groups to be about themselves. Perhaps they’re not trying to segregate. </p>
<p>They’re usually created, as with any group because those in said group have similar experiences or interests. A female engineer has likely experienced things directly related to her being a woman in a majority male workforce that she cannot relate to males. Other women engineers may share her experiences, concerns, etc.</p>
<p>Clearly, some posters can’t comprehend why she would want to join an organization for those in similar positions. Which is precisely why she isn’t coming to you, because you don’t get it.</p>
<p>It isn’t about excluding people; I doubt any of these groups formed with the idea of sticking it to the white males. </p>
<p>In any case, as the OP said, there aren’t many black/female/hispanic engineers. It may be encouraging to some to be around others who they don’t have to sit and explain, and re-explain, and explain some more because they don’t get it.</p>
<p>There are all types of specialized interests group ranging from people who are left-handed to autisic writers. If you want to start a right-handed, non-autistic white male writing engineers group, then do so, but not out of “Damn, the white males are getting screwed again, life is so unfair for us” spite.</p>