The world of electrical energy is still considered a mainly masculine environment, with few women who had the chance to be in charge of leading and top-level roles.
However, in the latest years, we witnessed a significant growth in the female quota in the energy industry, with more and more women engaged in this sector.
Many initiatives are in place to promote women’s participation, such as the creation of mentorship and leadership programs, as well as the settlement of recruiting policies based on meritocracy, without gender bias.
Also in terms of education, access by female students to electrical engineering faculties has increased all over the world.
According to the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) issued in 2020, the number of women that got a degree in electrical engineering in the US has constantly increased between 2010 and 2019. In 2019, the 21,3% of graduates in electrical engineering were women, compared to 18,1% in 2010.
In Europe, the European Union has published an essay on the participation of women in the science, technology, engineering, and math sectors (STEM). According to this report, the number of females enrolled in electrical engineering universities has increased by 37% between 2010 and 2016. However, women are only 24% of the total student in this faculty in Europe.
As in many other sectors historically reserved for men, women are demonstrating that their contribution is precious and that there are no gender limits in the world of electrical engineering.
Furthermore, women are gradually taking leadership roles across the industry, from energy company boards to government roles, also bringing unique perspectives and innovation in the electrical sphere.
However, despite this progress, gender equality in this industry still remains a challenge. Women continue to face obstacles and discrimination in the workplace. Lack of career opportunities, wage inequality and cultural barriers are some examples.
Therefore, there is still much to be done in order to promote and support the female minority in technical and scientific sectors like the electrical one, by adopting serious policies and measures aiming at encouraging gender equality, for instance, mentorship and leadership programs, and by creating a corporate culture and involving them in the planning and decision-making phases in the company.
INTERVIEW TO DR. ZARRAI
Amani Zarrai is an Engineer at C.R. Technology Systems SpA. She is in charge of the study and design of plug-in solutions for electrical substations. Today, she will speak about her professional path and what the world of electricity represents to her.
“First of all, I thank C.R. Technology Systems and our Marketing Manager for giving me the chance to share my experience.
The beginning of my journey was marked when I was choosing a secondary school. To broaden the idea about working realities of the students, I had the possibility to visit a company active in the manufacturing of automation and electronic technologies. At first, what most struck me was the automation of the industrial process thanks to the use of robots and highly technological machines. Then, I explored the dynamics of this reality and I became more and more passionate about the synergy between mechanics and electronics.
Following my new interest, I decided to undertake studies in mechanics, mechatronics, and energy, to then specialize in management engineering.
The world of engineering represents a fascinating reality both from a working and cultural point of view, as it is present in many aspects of our daily life. Few areas of our lives lack a bit of engineering, and that’s precisely the formula that most of all has pushed me towards this wonderful sector.
Despite many women sharing my passion for engineering, we are often discouraged from taking this path, due to the culture and society that consider this a male activity, because of its scientific nature”.
What major challenges did you have to face?
“ I admit that during my path I had to deal with challenges and it was not easy. I experiences situations of gender discrimination even before showing my value. I almost always entered environments where I was the exception and behind me I always felt a buzz composed of a mix of amused laughter and “it doesn’t last a week”.
Usually, society assigns women to humanistic or organizational subjects, but I think that it is necessary to start from this point to realize that these are PLUSes for a woman who wants to cover technical and leadership roles, because these features help to perform the maximum ability these roles as we often have greater sensitivity in detecting problems that are sometimes overlooked, but which help us to be more technically precise and ascertained.
However, luckily there are people and realities that are not influenced by gender, nor by my young age always opening up the possibility for me to demonstrate my abilities and enhance my uniqueness”.
How is your experience in CR Technology Systems?
“My current situation is the confirm that serious companies, where the gender discrimination is not normalized.
In C.R. Technology Systems SpA I have been welcomed as a Technical figure, and not as the female colleague. Here I have the chance to share my knowledge and reap the fruits of my commitment without being placed in a “special” category only because I am a woman. Following the example of my experience, I hope that many companies can take inspiration and grow in this area.
Overall, I can affirm that my negative experiences have helped me to temper my character and my skills without making me doubt my goals, indeed fortifying them and above all giving an even sweeter note to my victories, which also find ample space for women.
I would like women, in every sector, will always commit themselves to pursuing their goals without being knocked down by wrong clichés and poorly educated people. Above all to women in my sector, therefore colleagues, I say that we are an example and energy for generations future, therefore to the best of our ability we demonstrate how the energy of women has nothing to envy or to demonstrate to our male colleagues and that the winning formula is cooperation, whether it is man or woman, without disparity of any kind”.
