a blog post submitted by Dr. Katherina Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng, FEC, FGC (hon)
We started as DAWEG back in the ’80s, as we became aware of the challenges women faced then — and continue to face today — in the professions of engineering andgeoscience. Meghan Lui, EIT, wrote a detailed article on the history of DAWEG and its rebranding as WiEG, Women in Engineering and Geoscience, as it was renamed by the regulator.
Now, with WiEG closing down, DAWEG is reborn, with a twist: it is now Development and Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geoscience.
Many of us resisted the limitations placed on women. We were the pioneers, blazing a trail for engineering and geoscience women of the future. But systemic change has not happened. Women in these professions continue to blaze the same trails, over and over.
This is not an eng/geo phenomenon: many other professions continue to oppress women in policy and practice, as brought to the world’s attention through the #MeToo movement, several years ago now. I wrote an article about this for my doctoral program application exploring the need for an increased representation of women in engineering, citing the experiences of several other professions that I thought had achieved success. Turns out, most of them still hinder women’s income, advancement and recognition. And women in these professions, for the most part, are still unable to achieve their full potential through this oppressions, whether they realize or not.
This is why DAWEG is necessary.
Engineers and Geoscientists BC recently began discussions about how to best address the equity, diversity and inclusion requirements of the provincial and federal governments. The regulator recognizes the importance of diversity but until we know how the EDI efforts will play out, DAWEG continues to have a place in our society.