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FakeNoose

(35,663 posts)
26. My father was a professional civil engineer
Tue May 17, 2022, 11:02 AM
May 2022

He received his engineering degree in 1949 after having served in the Second World War. My Dad grew up in the "males-only" environment and it certainly shaped his attitudes toward women in the professional fields.

All that changed however when my parents bore and raised 7 daughters (along with 2 sons) and 3 of those daughters grew up to become engineers in their own careers. All 7 daughters earned bachelors (and some masters) degrees in college, and both sons did also. Having the encouragement and approval of one's father makes all the difference to the young women who grow up to break the glass ceilings of this world. Of course not all girls will break glass ceilings, but FIRST they have to WANT to do it. They need to think they CAN do it.

Something tells me by this letter that Jared Mauldin did receive encouragement and approval from both parents, and perhaps his mother is a professional in her own field. He certainly will be a great father some day and encourage his own children (daughters included) to succeed.

Well that was an unexpected surprise. CrispyQ May 2022 #1
It really was wasn't it? PatSeg May 2022 #7
Yes, geardaddy May 2022 #10
Actually, it was pretty much what I expected... Wounded Bear May 2022 #23
I only expected otherwise up until the words "for example." soldierant May 2022 #63
It was. Demovictory9 May 2022 #46
Unexpected is right.... paleotn May 2022 #62
Indeed! I was bracing for something that wasn't nearly as highly evolved. calimary May 2022 #65
I think this should go to the Greatest Page! Cracklin Charlie May 2022 #2
Any idea what year this was written? K&R, nt. druidity33 May 2022 #3
Years ago. Dates differ, but it's not recent. ancianita May 2022 #4
Fall, 2015 mahatmakanejeeves May 2022 #6
Thanks. Today? 51% of the U.S. will be stripped of their 1st, 9th, 13th & 14th amendment rights. ancianita May 2022 #9
And the 19th if they can manage it. niyad May 2022 #51
mahatmakanejeeves.... Upthevibe May 2022 #66
K&R secondwind May 2022 #5
Exactly Farmer-Rick May 2022 #8
His story, and his friend Holly's, was told on The Today Show. Here it is. pnwmom May 2022 #11
Cool. Thanks. ancianita May 2022 #12
Thanks for posting this. momta May 2022 #13
Thanks back, momta. ancianita May 2022 #41
A big K&R fantase56 May 2022 #14
Ugh, flashback to engineering school in the 60s Warpy May 2022 #15
Sad but great story, Warpy. Thanks for sharing it. ancianita May 2022 #18
A well-raised young man. sinkingfeeling May 2022 #16
Excellent letter Wild blueberry May 2022 #17
Hear Hear, Mr. Mauldin The Magistrate May 2022 #19
Sweet wryter2000 May 2022 #20
What a nice surprise keldridge May 2022 #21
This person is exactly who terrifies the tuckums of this country. Six117 May 2022 #22
At least in my community it has gotten much better exboyfil May 2022 #24
For years, I was the only male chemist where I worked Victor_c3 May 2022 #25
My father was a professional civil engineer FakeNoose May 2022 #26
Thank you for this wonderfully encouraging story! ancianita May 2022 #27
Go to the head of the class, Mr. Mauldin. Paladin May 2022 #28
Wait. That's his point. He shouldn't be at the head of the class. Just sayin'. ancianita May 2022 #30
Which makes him brighter than most of the engineers I know. (nt) Paladin May 2022 #37
And so very true. My little story... Happy Hoosier May 2022 #29
That's a great one! I LOVE 'FUCK OFF' STORIES. ancianita May 2022 #31
The only thing I love more than a good fuck off story, 2Gingersnaps May 2022 #45
I spent the greater part of my working life working with male engineers. TexLaProgressive May 2022 #32
Thank you! ancianita May 2022 #38
Fanatstic awareness Johnny2X2X May 2022 #33
Yours as well. I'm grateful for your description of increased difficulties across generations. ancianita May 2022 #35
Diversity is underappreciated Johnny2X2X May 2022 #40
Yes. I just really hate the standard for 'diversity' to include 51% of the country, along with ancianita May 2022 #42
I'm reminded of a firm my friend works at Johnny2X2X May 2022 #43
An all too common reality. The reality of the privilege of either not "seeing," or not ancianita May 2022 #44
As a retired female HR specialist I can say one thing about Jared... llmart May 2022 #34
Great info. Thank you for your post. I'm feeling better by the minute about women in STEM fields. ancianita May 2022 #36
My experience with older male engineers is different than yours. I think their egos pnwmom May 2022 #49
Yeah, and that's to say nothing of the egos in upper management! nt Shermann May 2022 #56
K&R Thanks for posting. n/t TeamProg May 2022 #39
Thank you for this post. love_katz May 2022 #47
Oh, love_katz, thank you back. ancianita May 2022 #48
... love_katz May 2022 #50
A sad thing about many "top tier" schools (I assume summer_in_TX May 2022 #54
No, it wasn't a top tier school. love_katz May 2022 #57
I'm sorry you weren't able to finish like you'd hoped. summer_in_TX May 2022 #67
As I tell my engineering students: Turbineguy May 2022 #52
Sadly, my mind immediately went to the Montreal Ecole Polytechnique Massacre. niyad May 2022 #53
You're from Canada? I ask because I can't recall it. ancianita May 2022 #55
Ah. I now see what you're talking about, and over 30 years ago, no less. Thanks for bringing it up. ancianita May 2022 #58
I am not Canadian, but that massacre is burned into my soul. niyad May 2022 #59
I have Canadian background on my father's side, and glad you posted about it. ancianita May 2022 #60
You are most welcome. I see from the article that you linked to that, for niyad May 2022 #61
I did NOT see that coming. 11 Bravo May 2022 #64
I love it when a man "gets it". Lunabell May 2022 #68
yet another self centered selfish jerk. AllaN01Bear May 2022 #69
I read it on my phone yesterday and then again today, and I promise that neither time Escurumbele May 2022 #70
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