Women's experiences in the engineering laboratory in Japan

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to examine Japanese women undergraduate engineering students’ experiences of interacting with departmental peers of the same year in the laboratory setting by using interview data of 32 final-year students at two modestly selective national universities in Japan. Expectation state theory that explains unequal relationship between men and women is used as a framework. Findings suggest that women generally had a discouraging experience while working with their male peers. Specifically, women participated less and lost confidence by comparing with the men who appeared to be confident and competent.

Keywords:

• women in engineering
• higher education
• hands-on-experiences

Additional information

About the author

Masako Hosaka is currently a Ph.D. candidate for Higher and Continuing Education at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Her research interests are women in higher education and faculty socialisation.