Without Role Models: A Few Pioneering Women Engineers in Asia

The importance of role models in inspiring and influencing the career paths of young people cannot be overstated, particularly in the fields where certain population segments are under-represented. However, when there are no role models, a few exceptional people become pioneers; these are people who carve out their own paths. Most research in early history of women in engineering focuses on the Western world, with relatively little information from the other parts of the globe. This paper presents the stories of a few Asian women who went against the odds, against social norms and expectations, without role models, and ventured into the field of engineering.