Women in Engineering: Breaking Stereotypes, Building Legacies

From silence to strength — my journey as a woman who refused to shrink in a space that wasn’t built for her.

They said it’s not a field for women.
They said I’d be too “delicate” to handle the pressure.
They said I’d be surrounded by men all the time — that it wouldn’t be “appropriate.”
They said too much.
But I stayed quiet — and let my actions speak.

When I chose chemical engineering, I wasn’t just stepping into a degree — I was stepping into a battlefield of perceptions. In a class of 40, there were only four of us girls. And that number alone made everything harder. Being seen. Being heard. Being taken seriously. I wasn’t just a student — I was a woman in engineering. And that meant I had to work twice as hard to be considered half as capable.

There’s a common belief where I come from — that women are physically weak, emotionally fragile, and not fit for such “tough” fields. But the truth is, engineering doesn’t demand biceps — it demands brains, resilience, and backbone. And I had that.

Still, the struggles were real.

In societies, I had to fight for space in student leadership. While all other engineering society presidents were male, I had to insist, persist, and resist to become the AIChE president — a role I didn’t just earn, but truly owned. In meetings with faculty heads, I would confidently pitch ideas… only to be mocked, laughed at, and sometimes completely dismissed. The humiliation stung, but it didn’t silence me. It only fueled me.

I was a woman of principles, and that didn’t sit well with many. I refused to help with cheating — a culture too common — and that earned me criticism and isolation. What hurt most was that even though I used to help my classmates prepare for quizzes, explain assignments, and support them in studies, I was still bullied for not allowing anyone to copy my work. My help was convenient — my integrity wasn’t.

Add to that the fact that I was the topper, on a scholarship, and someone who didn’t compromise her values — it made me an easy target. The politics, the jealousy, the constant attempts to undermine me — they were exhausting.

But I stayed steadfast.

Not for validation, not for applause, but for something deeper:
To prove to myself — and to every girl watching quietly from the sidelines — that we are capable.

Engineering isn’t just about machines, equations, or pipelines.
It’s about curiosity, courage, and an urge to solve real-world problems.
It’s about showing up when no one expects you to.
And staying — even when they try to push you out.

I didn’t grow up with engineers around me. I didn’t inherit this path — I chose it. Every step was a decision to rise above expectation. To not just occupy space, but to create it.

Being a woman in engineering is not a limitation.
It’s a legacy in the making.

To every girl who's ever been told “engineering isn’t for you” —
Don’t just prove them wrong.
Redefine what’s right.

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