[FRC Blog] Something New - SWE Grant

[Monochron]

Our team will continue to strive to provide excellent leadership opportunities, engineering opportunities, and professional experience to our female members rather than attempt to qualify for this grant. I imagine most FIRST teams will do the same. Encouraging affirmative action is neither gracious nor professional.




Now, to play a bit of devil's advocate, I think I can see SWE's line of thinking. Their goal may be to promote and grow programs where girls have ample opportunity to succeed. They may also think that their requirements (50%, female driver, etc.) indicate a program where girls have ample opportunity to succeed. I think this is strangely restrictive, but I can at least see their line of thinking. If a team is 50% female and at least one female is on the drive team, that team is almost certainly helping to give girls opportunities in STEM.

It worry's me though that they think that an organization that doesn't meet those restrictions is not worth funding. As if having less than 50% and an all male drive team means that you MUST be prohibiting females from excelling (even if unintentionally). If this is true, it is disturbing and sets a terrible example for FIRST. Maybe there is another way to explain the restrictive requirements...