Hi FIRSTers, I’m a member of Team Mercury 1089 and my history teacher assigned a gender study to my class. Another student and I on our team have decided to revolve our study around people involved in science and technology. Everyone is invited to answer these questions and we are very appreciative of your answers. You can either post up responses here or PM them to me. I’ll post the findings of our project after we compile the statistics. Thank you for your time.
Team Specific Questions:
What is your team name and number?
Where is your team from?
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students?
Mentors?
B. Drive Team:
C. Pit Crew:
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender?
What are your parents’ jobs/careers?
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable)
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs?
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with)
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics?
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields?
What do you do on your team?
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc)
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not?
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please)
What is your team name and number?2177, The Robettes
Where is your team from?Mendota Heights, MN
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students? 3 female co-captains
Mentors? 3 Male, 2 Female
B. Drive Team: 100% Female
C. Pit Crew: 100% Female
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.The team is part of an all girls Catholic high school… I guess you could say there’s a gender bias
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender?Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers?Accountant/teacher
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable)Software Engineer
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs?1 sister, Psychology
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with)Pretty much normal growing up
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics?It sounded interesting, and was a good way to give back to the community
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields?A lingering affect of “traditional” gender roles, dating back hundreds of years to when women didn’t have jobs at all.
What do you do on your team?Mentor for electrical mostly, help out with programming/mechanical when needed.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc)Been living them for 10 years now
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not?Already there, working for one of the major medical device companies
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) Nope. As my mom puts it, she new I would be an engineer when I was 5 and asked why some plugs had 2 prongs, and others 3!
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 1 Female 2 Male
Students? ~10 Females ~30 Males
Mentors? 1 Female 8 Male
B. Drive Team: Not Decided Yet
C. Pit Crew: Not Decided
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain. I’ve seen gender bias; programmers are all male.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Construction Stay at home mom
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Student
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? 1 Brother; annoy me, watch tv, play basketball, play video games… the typical 12 year old boy
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) Legos and C++ are the only profound “toys” I remember. Videogames
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? What is the use in a talent for programming if it is being used for random junk biz that no one would see? Robotics allowed me to use my skill productively.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Why? Because of the history of human kind and the circumstances they were put in.
What do you do on your team? Lead programmer
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc)
**Doctorate in Comp Sci/Come Engineering in Caltech. I want to be a research scientist at JPL, IBM, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, or any of those types of companies/organizations. **
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not?
**Yes ever since I was like 5… I never knew why, I just love it. **
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please)
**A lot of people. Mostly for my mediocre grades… The stereotypes. **
What is your team name and number? 103, Cybersonics Technology Team
Where is your team from? Kintnersville PA
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 2 male, 2 female
Students? 16 male, 13 female
Mentors? 7 male, 1 female
B. Drive Team: 4 males
C. Pit Crew: 5 male, 2 female
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
I would say no. We have had a significant amount of girls on our team from the beginning.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Engineer/Carpenter
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Student
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? Yes What are their hobbies/jobs? Robotics team
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) LEGOS! hiking, camping, outdoorsy stuff, building things, all kinds of great stuff!
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? Lego League/ extreme interest
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Stereotypes and the current culture
What do you do on your team? Animation, manfacturing, drive team, and president.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) Mechanical Engineering Major, onto a mechanical engineer carrier
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Yes, because that is what I love.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) Not really. People always love to hear what I want to do, and they encourage it more than anything.
We don’t have specific sections, but we’ve had one girl on the team at maximum: Camille graduated last year, and Ryan left for time reasons this year, but hopefully she’ll join and stay next year.
What is your team name and number? Team 1675 The Ultimate Protection Squad
Where is your team from? Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 2 main female leaders
Students? 4 girls, about 12 boys
Mentors? 2 girls, about 10 boys
B. Drive Team: 2 girls, one boy
C. Pit Crew: 2 girls, 1 or 2 boys
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
Not really.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Female
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? School Security guard (mom), chef (dad)
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Prospective Doctor of Immunology or Diagnostics
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? One Sister, manager at a fast food restaurant
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) I spent time with a lot of boys. I played with Hot Wheels and didn’t like things like Barbies, or things that didn’t move and do cool things.
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? I started in 6th grade with FLL because I needed something to do after school and it sounded awesome!
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? I think it depends on the interest and background of the individual person. It may also depend on just the fact that it is not a traditional woman’s job so it will take some time before women are fully involved, as it has with most every other career.
What do you do on your team? I am a mentor, but I used to be a part of mechanical/fabrication and pit crew.
What are your post high school aspirations? Pre-Med and History
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Well, I want to be a doctor, but nothing into engineering because I really really really hate math.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) Not at all. Everyone who I consider family and good friends support me fully in whatever I would choose to do
What is your team name and number? 2022 Titan Robotics
Where is your team from? Aurora, IL
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students? 14 Male
3 Female
Mentors? 5 Male
2 Female
B. Drive Team: Every year in the past we have had 2 male, 2 female
C. Pit Crew: 3 Male 1 Female, all students
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain. Yes, we have very few females try out for our team. This year is one of our worst. Our team was founded by a couple of girls, and started out a majority girls, however now we are down to less than 30%
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Commercial Real Estate researcher, teacher.
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) High School Student, planning to major in mechanical
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? 1 Brother, economics, robotics, college student in CompE
Roughly describe your childhood: Early childhood consisted of lots of outdoor play, going on trips during the summer to see the country. Helping out whenever we were doing a renovation. Taking things apart. I played with things like lego, knex, brio, etc
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? The whole team spent a weekend at my house in 8th grade. After that I was hooked.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Primarily due to early development. During development, girls are given dolls to play with, boys are given trains.
What do you do on your team? I am one of the lead team captains, and am the primary project manager. This year I lead the design of the drive system, superstructure and minibot.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) I am planning on attending Michigan Tech as a Mechanical Engineering major, with the possibility of throwing in a CS double major.
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Yes, my experience with robotics has shown me that I have a knack for technology, and it is just fun.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) No, I have only been encouraged.
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students? 2 Female, 3 Male
Mentors? 2 Female, 8 Male
B. Drive Team: Don’t know for 2011 yet, typically all guys though
C. Pit Crew: Don’t have a set pit crew
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
Not in my opinion
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Mom: Stay at home mom, Dad: maintenance tech
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Me: industrial/utility electrician
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? Nope
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) Legos and stuff like that, I’m pretty sure I stuck a screwdriver into a receptacle at an early age too.
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? I wanted to be involved in something in HS and it seemed to be a natural fit.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? I think it goes back to the typical gender rolls thing.
What do you do on your team? Electrical stuff, keep them from smoking the electrical stuff, bring in cool tools and test equipment, and help with the mechanical.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) I’m (slowly, I hate sitting in classes) working toward me EE degree, I also plan on taking the AZ electrical contractor’s exam, I have this crazy idea about being my own boss one day :eek:
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? I don’t think I ever want to work in any other field, I like working with tools, troubleshooting, problem solving, and designing stuff.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) Nope
We’d like anyone involved (mentors, students, alumni, volunteers etc) to fill out the form. We understand that not everyone will be able to answer every question but any and all opinions are welcomed.
What is your team name and number? 2783, Engineers of Tomorrow
Where is your team from? Greater Louisville area, KY/IN
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 4 male, 1 female
Students? 13 male, 3 female
Mentors? 7 male, 2 female
B. Drive Team: not decided yet
C. Pit Crew: not decided yet
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain. From external looks, yes. In reality, no. we reject nobody as long as they are the correct age and are willing to commit themselves adequately to the team.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Merchandiser/Dietitian
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Student
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? None living, 1 passed away What are their hobbies/jobs? N/A
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) Lego, knex, radio shack kits, computers, video games, bicycles, mom and dad, rock music
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? flipped a coin between robotics and board game club. you can guess which way the flip went.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? stereotypes, culture, personal preferences
What do you do on your team? Electronics, some manufacturing, former lathe wizard.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) Electrical engineering, minor in mechanical engineering.
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Yes, Ilove it.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) No.
I agree here 100%, this will be the cleanest way for you to collect your data. Just set up and excel sheet in a google doc. Also, FIRST has released a study just like this one, it is about 4 years old now. I would love to see the results of your study however. (FYI I’m addicted to statistics, both reading and conducting my own studies. I wish you the best of luck!
What is your team name and number? **Harrison Boiler Robotics, Team **1747
Where is your team from? West Lafayette, Indiana
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 4 female, 4 male
Students? 20 male, 6 female
Mentors? 8 male college students, 4 other male adults
B. Drive Team: typically 25% female, including coach
C. Pit Crew: roughly 15-20% female
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? No. Our team has had female presidents for the last four years.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Sales director
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable)** Engineering student**
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? One brother, biology
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) I was mostly a loner growing up. I did play with LEGOs a lot.
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? A guy a grade above me in my Boy Scout troop suggested that I join.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Acceptance of unfortunate gender role stereotypes
What do you do on your team? CAD, manufacturing, scouting mentor
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) Already graduated and loving it
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Yes – Majoring in industrial/systems engineering at Purdue University
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) No
What is your team name and number?2240 Brute Force
Where is your team from? Denver, CO
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 1 female, 4 male
Students? 4 females, 16 males
Mentors?0 females, 5 males
B. Drive Team:undecided
C. Pit Crew:undecided
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.Gender bias, No i find the whether consciously or not the ladies seem to the the harder workers
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender?Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? **Father: Airline Pilot Mother: Insurance Salesman **
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) N/A
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs?Brother, Hobbies: reading, building legos Sister, hobbies: playing with friends
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with)I spent majority of me time either building things or playing with the computer
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics?I cant remember, I think it was a spur of the moment thing
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Because some women feel as if they are not able to do the "smart stuff"
What do you do on your team?logistics and Build
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc)Get an degree in mechanical engineering going though an Army ROTC program
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not?**Yes and No, If in the military I am able to do something in the science and/or technology field then I will but if not thats oj too **
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please)I have been told by many of my friends (both male and female) that the military is a bad idea but I just ignore them remembering that its my life not theirs
What is your team name and number? Team Stealth #1802
Where is your team from? Kansas City, KS
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 1 female and 4 male
Students? Total: 16; Female: 2; Male: 14
Mentors? Active mentors(we have some away at college currently) Male: 5; Female: 2
B. Drive Team: Not decided yet but most likely all male
C. Pit Crew: All male, possibility of 1 female
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain. We have a difficult time getting students in general which leads to finding females wanting to participate extremely difficult. Our team is very small compared to other local teams.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Female
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Admin and Shop Manger(mechanic)
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Student
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? 1 Brother, he competes in FLL and likes to make replicas of medieval weaponry
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) I spent time mostly with boys, I grew up outside of a neighborhood and had to entertain myself. I loved my legos(still do), Lincoln logs and my barbies.
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? Heard all about it from my cousin and wanted to be apart of something so amazing
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Gender roles still playing a major factor in today’s society
What do you do on your team? Student: Treasury, scrap booking, attendance, safety, public relations, outreach, fundrasing, and basically everything outside of the robot. Mentor: Basically everything I did in high school but now I’m helping coach the students on how to do it
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) College and a job with FIRST
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Was originally a ChmE then switched to Secondary Education focus in science.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please)
What is your team name and number? Team 1189, the Gearheads
Where is your team from? Grosse Pointe, MI
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership:
Students? 5 male, 2 female
Mentors? 7 male, 3 female (approximately)
B. Drive Team: Not determined yet, but it has been all male for the past 3 years
C. Pit Crew: Not determined for this year yet, but the past three years have been approximately 4 male, 2 female
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain. No. We typically have a low male-female ratio (usually at lesat 5:1), which is reflected in our leadership. However, there WERE members of other teams who gawked when they found out that we had two female co-captains who were also proficient machinists.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Female
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Father: Marketing manager at GM. Mother: Stay-at-home mom
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) N/A
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? Two younger brothers. Their hobbies include band and video games. One is involved in FRC. The other is still in elementary school and it remains to be seen if he follows our footsteps into FIRST.
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with)
I spent a lot of time playing with my toys; not necessarily always other people. I was a huge fan of Beanie Babies, in addition to my doll house and Barbies.
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? A friend (female) had a brother on the team, and she convinced me to join, stating clearly that it was a lot of fun, and I didn’t have to work on the robot.
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? Media pressure and sexism in the professional world. It’s also unintentionally drilled into our brains from a young age that boys build things and girls cook.
What do you do on your team? Last year I served as a team co-captain. This year, I am in charge of training and Safety, as well as being the main operator of our lathe. I have been on pit crew for the past three years.
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) I’m enrolled as a Materials Science and Engineering major at Michigan Tech University for this fall. After graduating, I don’t know whether I will pursue grad school or walk right into a career.
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Well, I’m definitely going into a science and technology field. I didn’t consider this possibility until I got involved in robotics, when I was actually exposed to science and technology application.
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) No. Most people seem very thrilled that I’m going to be an engineering major and are very supportive, even if they are surprised at first.
What is your team name and number? Westside Boiler Invasion 461
Where is your team from? West Lafayette, IN
What is the gender break down of your team? Specifically regarding:
A. Team Leadership: 2 Female, 2 Male
Students? 8 Female 40 Male
Mentors? 2 Female 7 Male
B. Drive Team: 3 Male
C. Pit Crew: Not Decided
Have you dealt with or seen a gender bias on your team? Please explain.
Not really, one of the primary assemblers for tech is a girl, and one of the primary outreach people is a guy.
Family Life Questions:
What is your gender? Male
What are your parents’ jobs/careers? Professor and Stay at home
What is your career/your spouse’s career? (If applicable) Student
Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What are their hobbies/jobs? 1 Sister, stereotypical 13 year old popular girl
Roughly describe your childhood: (i.e. who did you spend time with, what types of toys did you play with) I spent time with a lot of my friends that ended up on robotics, and i spent a lot of time messing with computers, audio equipment, and LEGO robots
Person Specific Questions:
Why did you join robotics? I got recruited by DUKE461
Why do you think that there are so few women working in science and technology fields? a widely accepted idea that women are naturally bad at math
What do you do on your team? a little bit of CAD, electronics, and almost all of the CNC work
What are your post high school aspirations? (Include college majors etc) Major in econometrics at University of Chicago, with a possible PhD
Have you considered going into a science or technology field? Why or why not? Yes, but economics is far more interesting
Have you ever been discouraged about your career aspirations? By whom? (Relation and gender, no names please) only when I wondered about a PhD in theoretical math, and that was only because of difficulty
