A Cross-section of Women Engineers in Italy

Abstract

SUMMARY In Italy as in other European countries, the percentage of women who graduated with a degree in engineering is still very low. However, in past years, matriculation of women in engineering has been increasing, although the trend is still lower than in other departments, where an overall average of 50% increase is projected. Using statistical data from the oldest and one of the most important universities in the world, the University of Bologna, we have analysed the historical and social reasons why particular careers for women,i.e. teaching and medicines, were chosen over other careers. Other data were used to study why women had difficulties being accepted at the University; who were the famous female teachers at the University of Bologna (18th century); who were the first female graduates in engineering in Italy (Turin, 1908) and in particular, in Bologna (1915). In addition, we studied the distribution of women in the various fields of engineering. A survey was sent to a sample of woment gradua...