Sex

In recent years, the study of the impact of sexism and gender relations on university

education has been a topic of great interest all around the world, which identify feminine and the

masculine characteristics between men and women (Scott, 2006). Mechanical Engineers are

concerned with the principle of force, energy and motion, and the men and women who work as

mechanical engineers are professionals with expert knowledge of the design and manufacture of

mechanical systems and thermal devices, and processes (Lovette, 2021). The low participation of

women in STEM studies is identifies as one of the main problems that must be resolved in in

order to close the gender gap that exist in the technology sector. The study of a gender

perspective for global competencies and the differences correlates with the different levels of

responsibility in the grading, both in the university and in the field.

Many studies have shown that women remain degraded in top position in the field of

engineering. According to US Department of Education in 2016, even if between 2006 and 2017

women presence in doctoral degrees overpassed 50%, but fewer women are found in the highest

academic rank. In 2018, one study showed that in Italian Work Field, especially in the highest

position, women are degraded, it has been found that when a small number of positions is

available, females have a significant lower chance of promotion, especially for a project

manager. Some of the country all over the world was dominated by men and the profession

regarded as a male dominance, in engineering fields. As Walton in 1986 reported, societies do

not expect women to become scientist and those that do are seen to step “out of line”. They
believed that women only represent in what called service-sector, that the jobs include teaching,

nursing, sales and advertising.

On the other hand, according to the research of Brawner et.al in 2013 and Schaffer in

2018, some of the young people believe that there is now equality between men and women.

This phenomenon called the ‘equality mirage’, which means it shows how society view equality,

in a different perspective than reality. A recent report has shown that year 12 participation in

Australia in Intermediate Mathematics is around 20% for boys while for girls it is around 18%.

This suggest that the pipeline for girls into engineering isn’t too dissimilar to that for boys, yet

girls don’t go on to choose engineering at the same rate. Women’s experience of engineering is

markedly different along two critical dimensions: they are confronted with a culture that ignores

sexism and stereotypes, and where only special attention is paid in contributing to society.

The initiative, however, will not be enough to change engineering’s gendered

professional culture (Seron, 2009). Rather, stereotypes from peers and professionals that go

unquestioned appear to be enough to maintain a gendered professional culture. Engineering must

address indirect learning through initiation rites and anticipatory socialization. Otherwise, the

profession’s amazing persistence in upholding the status current system will continue.
Scott, J.W., (2006), Gender as a Useful Category of Historical Analysis, Routledge: London,
https://www.we.riseup.net/assets/569609/Scott.pdf

Lovette, M., (2021), Mechanical Engineers: Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics Office of Occupation Statistics and Employment Projections PSB Suite 2135 2
Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-
engineering/mechanical-engineers.html

Johnson, H.L., (2016), Pipelines, Pathways, and Institutional Leadership: An Update on The
Status of Women in Higher Education, American Council on Education, Wahington DC, USA,
https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/84062

De Paola, M., Ponzo, M., Scoppa, V., (2018), Are Men Given Priority for Top Jobs? University
of Chicago, Chicago Pressprint, https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/publication-ethics-statement

Bladekale, AJ. (2003), Women and Engineering: Towards Improved policy Initiatives and
Increased Female Participation Technology Policy Studies, Nairobi, Kenya.
https://www.atpsnet.org/File/working_paper_series.pd

Schaffer, G., (2018), Engineering Gender Equality: Women are under-represented in areas of
engineering due to lack of role models and lack of other women – but how do we change that?,
University of Malbourne, Malbourne School of Engineering, ABN: 84 002 705 224,
https://pursuit-unimelb-edu-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/
engineering-gender-
equality.amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usp=mq3311AQKKAFQArABIIACAVw%3D
%3D#aoh=16467338109453&reffere=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

Serron, C. et.al., (2009), Engineering Culture and the Reproduction of Sex Segregation,
Department of Criminology, Law & Society at the University of California, Irvine,
https://www.workinprogress.oowsection.org
Grades

The engineering should create a constructively aligned environment which is encouraging

and supportive of students engaging in the appropriate and necessary mental activity to construct

their own learning and to take the responsibility of their own learning. The student’s

performance or academic achievement plays an important role in producing the best quality

graduates who will become great leader and manpower for the country thus responsible for the

country’s economic and social development. Academic performance serves as a measure of

students’ progress in developing the knowledge and skills that are essential for their future career

(Laguador, 2013).

According to the research of De Chavez et. al. in 2016, the mechanical engineering

student of LPU-B performed excellent in their languages courses and verbally interpreted as

excellent, while the respondents only performed satisfactory in mathematics. Because they

implemented Just English policy that trains its student and develop English proficiency and

mathematics in in engineering is difficult to make each student work in analyzing problems that

can be used in actual. Great problem solvers regularly have certain have certain capacities that

not so good problem solvers. First, the capacity to distinguish applicable from unnecessary data.

The capacity to see rapidly and precisely the numerical structure of a problem, the capacity to

sum up over an extensive variety of comparable issues, and the capacity to recall problem’s

formal structure for quite a while (Krutetskii, 2009).

Despite the various study that emphasized on the important predictors for academic

achievement, a study reported that 50 % of the student who were expected to fail in the higher

education ended up with success, compared with 30% of the students who ended up failing while

they were expected to be successful in their academic achievement (Mouw and Khanna, 1993).
According to Najafabdi and Imani in 2020, the study shows that reflector learning style is

significantly correlated with academic performance or grades. It emphasized on the importance

of learning style of the mechanical engineering students together with IQ and beliefs on IQ rather

than only the role of IQ in academic performance that has been previously mentioned in

traditional studies.
Laguador, J.M., (2013), Academic Performance and Measure of Character and Personality of
Engineering Students with and without Referral from Counselling Center. Asian Academic
Research Journal on Social Science and Humanities https://www.researchgate.net

Krutetshii, C. A. (2009). Engineering Students Perception of Academic Activities and support

Services; factors that influence their academic performance https://peerasee.or

De Chavez, K. J., et al, (2016) On-the=Job Training and Academic Performance of Mechanical
Students in one Academic Institution in the Philippines, College of Engineering, Lyceum of the
Philippines University, Batangas City, Philippines.
https://ijooes.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/2183-6493_008-001_0007

Mouv, J.T. & Khanna, R.K. (1993). Prediction of Academic Success: A Review of the Literature
and some Recommendations. College Student Journal 12.
https://doi.org/10.17762/tourcomat/v12i3.771