A Chip on Her Shoulder
A docudrama lifting up the experiences of women in engineering
A Chip on Her Shoulder investigates the experience of women in engineering and stimulates the conversation of what it means to be a visible and/or invisible identity in the field. It engages directly with engineers through participatory interviews used to create the script and form a collective story of the struggles and accomplishments of women in the field. The play presents both technological and personal issues and accomplishments in the field, tackles discrimination and bias through subversive musical comedy, and celebrates inclusive ideas for the future of Engineering.
Recent PRESENTATIONS:
Tandon School of Engineering at New York University (New York, NY)
The Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York (New York, NY)
National Society of Black Engineers at Columbia University (New York, NY)
Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
Queens College (New York, NY)
Virginia Western Community College (Roanoke, VA)
CONTEXT:
Engineers impact our homes, our transportation, our food, and almost every advancement we experience in our ever changing world. Yet the invisibility of Engineering confuses most lay people about the practices and people responsible for shaping our very lives. Add gender to an already hidden field, and it is no surprise that only 14% of engineers in the field are women (according to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee). This statistic does not take into account intersecting identities of ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, age, or ability.
AUDIENCE REACTIONS:
“I laughed, I got mad, and I teared up. I have experienced so much of that, and it really struck a chord. And having these types of conversations are what will change it!”
– R. Nadean Carson, P.E. Stormwater Program Manager
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?
A dedicated screening of our production (digital streaming or performed live) for your student body
A participatory, artist-led workshop (digital or live in-person), expanding the dialogue sparked by the play
An Immersive learning experience for your students during which they learn new ways to consume and create relevant content with enriched social awareness
TOPICS EXPLORED
Minorities in STEM with a particular emphasis on engineering
The concept of micro-inequities
The demographics of academic appointments in STEM fields
Barriers to hiring for women and non-binary individuals in male-dominated occupations
Cultivation of curiosity and empathy
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?
Call executive director Thomas Murray at 773-349-2589 or click below to send him an email.