A Grounded Theory Approach to Uncovering the Process of How Sustainability Topics Influence Women Engineers’ Career Choice and Engagement

Ibifuro Ken-Giami, Sarinova Simandjuntak, Linda Yang and Ann Coats
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Ibifuro Ken-Giami: School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK
Sarinova Simandjuntak: School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK
Linda Yang: School of Computing, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DJ, UK
Ann Coats: School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Technology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3AH, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-28

Abstract: Despite the growing demand for more engineers associated with the profession’s relevance in addressing the world’s most challenging sustainability problems, more young girls are choosing other career paths with similar relevance such as healthcare, compared to engineering. This scenario has been attributed to their lack of understanding of engineering roles in addressing such issues and thus indicates the relevance of research that not only provides such understanding, but also shows how women engineers’ career choice is influenced by sustainability topics. Previous research has only identified such topics that appeal to women’s attraction to engineering. However, knowledge about how this decision is reached is currently lacking. Consequently, this paper aims to uncover the process of how sustainability topics influence women’s choice of engineering using a grounded theory approach to collect and analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 women engineers who were purposively and theoretically sampled. The results show that the link between sustainability topics and women’s choice and engagement in engineering is largely manifested through four primary interrelated factors: exposure, awareness, interest and direct involvement (EAID). The study outcome is a novel EAID process model indicating that women’s interest and direct involvement in engineering could be influenced through two main routes—either by creating exposure or by awareness of engineering roles that cause or address sustainability challenges. It offers practical implications for engineering institutions, which could inform strategies for recruiting and attracting more women to engineering, and possibly enhance gender diversity and sustainability practices in the profession.

Keywords: grounded theory; women’s career choice; engineering impact; sustainability topics; problem solving (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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