The occasion of International Women in Engineering Day (June 23rd) is commemorated through this short post, honouring and reflecting upon the contributions made by women not only in the IT hubs, but also in reshaping our digital spaces.
Did you know that despite nearly half of India’s population being women, only about 29% of undergraduate engineering students are women. In core branches like mechanical or electrical engineering, that number often falls to between 10–15%, with some institutions reporting even lower.
Women are making their mark everywhere. Their contributions are not negligible but noteworthy. They are the assistors and often the co-facilitators in creating safer, more inclusive and ethically designed platforms. Yet their work often goes unnoticed in broader conversations on tech and safety.
Engineering continues to be marked by the underrepresentation of women — especially in India. The 2023–24 All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) reports that only 29% of undergraduate engineering students are women. While this may be seen as progress compared to earlier decades, the complete picture reveals a more uneven reality. Core engineering streams such as mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering see total female enrolment hovering between 10–15%; many institutions report figures even lower. In comparison, fields such as computer science, information technology, and biotechnology see a higher rate of women’s enrolment, with women students making up 35–40% of the student population in these streams.
This uneven distribution isn’t incidental; it reflects deeper structural and cultural barriers. Mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering often involve on-site work, travel, or field exposure. For many women, particularly those from smaller towns or first-generation college-goers, these are not minor logistical issues but major deterrents. Safety, mobility, and infrastructure concerns create real obstacles; failure to improve these conditions keeps the “boys’ club” mentality alive.
Persistent gendered stereotypes also play a dominant role. Physical rigour and hardware-oriented work are routinely seen as masculine, while coding and software-related roles are viewed as more suitable for women. These assumptions may be subtle but they are powerful; they are shaped early in life by peers, parents, and career counsellors.
The lack of visible women in faculty and leadership positions further reinforces the idea that these streams are not for women. Over time, many young women come to believe they don’t belong — not because of lack of interest, but because the message is clear: these careers aren’t meant for them.
There is a silver lining to this cloud. Many women engineers have been able to reshape the digital world in ways that centre safety, ethics, and inclusion. Notable names include Rama Akkiraju, an Indian-American AI scientist working extensively on responsible AI and ethical machine learning at IBM and NVIDIA. Her work on building explainable, human-centric AI systems aims to counter how complex technologies can alienate users. Closer to home, engineers like Neelima Sistla stand out for their contributions to platform trust and safety at tech firms such as Microsoft. Women like her play key roles in bias detection, child protection features, and security design.
Srishti Mendhekar and Priyansha Mishra deserve special mention for their groundbreaking work as founders of On Her Way, a travel safety platform designed for solo women travellers. These young engineers, graduates of Manipal Institute of Technology, are building safety into mobility from the ground up.
These undervalued contributions are vital to the creation of safer, more inclusive technology. Their work reflects a wider shift; more women engineers are embedding feminist and inclusive values into the systems that shape our digital lives.
At the Centre for Social Research, we don’t just talk about digital safety — we imbibe it. It is one of our key strategies for empowering women and youth to navigate digital spaces with confidence and care. We have already developed and implemented the Online Safety and Security Toolkit, led workshops and trainings across communities, and worked with schools, colleges, and parents to build safer online practices. We have also contributed to national and international conversations on tech policy and safety, bringing feminist perspectives to platforms and processes.
This International Women in Engineering Day, let’s not just celebrate women engineers, but also amplify their voices and ensure they lead the way in shaping ethical, inclusive, and secure digital futures.
