Is it different across the pond? Exploring gendered experiences in civil engineering in the UK and USA

The construction industry continues to struggle to attract women into civil engineering. Despite drives for equality in both the UK and the US, women remain underrepresented on university courses, and thus also in the field. Increased understandings of this can inform and support positive change. A comparative study of the experiences of both male and female engineers at different stages of their careers in the UK and USA was undertaken. A purposive sample was selected which included students, graduates, and full-time engineers, with one male and one female participant at each experiential level. Interviews with n=10 UK and n=10 US engineers were held via Zoom, transcribed, and analysed to reveal the dominant themes therein. Findings reveal gendered differences in how the participants position themselves within the industry. Familiar problems also have long shadows; entry to the industry, general awareness, and perceptions of construction, as well challenges of bias, sexism and stereotypes all endure. This study updates understandings of why and how women continue to be underrepresented in civil engineering and using evidence from both countries makes suggestions to enhance gender equality in this space.