Overcoming Gender Stereotypes

March 13, 2018 29 By EngineerMommy

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StrengthHasNoGender #Cbias #CollectiveBias

As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I have two degrees in chemical engineering. My time in college taught me many lessons. Yes, I learned how to balance a chemical reaction and solve a complex differential equation, but I also learned valuable life lessons too. I learned that even in the male-dominated world of engineering, I can still achieve success and prove my worth as a capable, proficient individual. That’s why the #StrengthHasNoGender campaign from Brawny® really speaks to me- it’s meant to empower girls & women to break those pesky gender stereotypes! Keep an eye out for the limited-time Strength Has No Gender™ pack from Brawny® at Walmart!

After having overcome gender stereotypes myself, I am passionate about encouraging my daughters to pursue their interests in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). In my engineering classes, I was certainly outnumbered as a female. I’m fairly sure that a number of professors, and plenty of classmates, saw me as “just another pretty girl”. However, I was way more than just a pretty girl. I was a capable, dedicated student who had a passion for math & science. I studied very diligently throughout college. I was immersed in a rigorous technical curriculum and I didn’t have much time for socialization. That didn’t matter to me, though- I was focused on the work and I enjoyed the challenge of proving myself. My hard work certainly paid off in the end. I graduated summa cum laude from my undergraduate program and was accepted to study chemical engineering at the graduate level at a prestigious Ivy League university.

College Graduation

College Graduation


Nowadays, as a mom and entrepreneur, I love doing science experiments with my daughters. It shows them that science can be fun and accessible … and it’s certainly a subject they can pursue if they wish! A fun experiment we recently performed showcases the phenomenon of walking water. We placed three glasses next to each other. We filled the outer two ones with water. We added some food coloring to them, too (we choose red and blue). Then we placed some rolled-up paper towels between the cups, as you can see in the following picture.
Science Fsun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


Over time, the water “walks” along the paper towel. Thanks to capillary action, the water travels along the paper towel from the outermost glasses to the innermost glass… until all three glasses are at the same level. Notice also that the water in the center glass becomes filled with a color that is a mixture of the outermost glass colors. Red + Blue = Purple!
Science Fun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


Another fave experiment is simple but incredibly awesome! Simply fill a zippered plastic bag with water. Then gently insert sharpened pencils all the way through the bag. Surprisingly, no water leaks out!
Science Fun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


How does this one work? Well, plastic bags are made of a polymer that is lightweight and flexible. After the pencil slips between the strands of the polymer, the polymer forms a temporary seal around the pencil. This experiment is always a fun one for kids!
Science Fun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


Another favorite experiment of ours is making homemade cornstarch slime. Simply combine 2 parts corn starch to 1 part water.
Science Fun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


When you apply pressure to the mixture, it behaves like a solid – you can form a ball. When you release pressure from the mixture, it behaves like a liquid – it oozes between the fingers. Materials that behave this way are characterized as non-Newtonian fluids. The kids really enjoy playing with this messy material!
Science Fun with Kids

Science Fun with Kids


I plan on doing science experiments with the kids for many more years to show them that science is fun and exciting. And when it comes time to cleaning up after our science experiments (or any of the other messes that happen in our household), I will always turn to Brawny®, which helps me wipe up whatever life throws down.
Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus

Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus


Brawny® offers exceptional durability and absorbency, which is something I appreciate. I love that I also get more sheets per roll (vs. leading national brand comparable roll and sheet size). In fact, it’s perfect for small messes or big messes… and even those in-between messes.
Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus

Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus


Did you know that Brawny® is asking people across America to recognize the SHEro in their life? A SHEroe is a strong, resilient woman who has broken through barriers. She stands up for what is right and always puts others before herself. She is a role model and thrives on overcoming adversity with strength & resilience. I am hoping to be a SHEro for my daughters by being a role model (a female engineer) and by encouraging them to pursue their interests in STEM subjects. Do you know a SHEro in your life? Brawny® would love to hear your story!
Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus

Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus


This Women’s History Month, share the story of your SHEro using the hashtag #StrengthHasNoGender… and tell your friends to do the same! Let’s spread the word and celebrate the mission of Brawny®! By the way, I love that Brawny® is giving back to the community with the GIRLS INC. PARTNERSHIP MODULE SHEROES OF TOMORROW. Brawny® will donate a $100K and, will also give your SHEro stories to Girls Inc. to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Let’s shape a better future and prove #StrengthHasNoGender!
Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus

Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus


Look for Brawny® Pick-a-Size 8 Giant Plus from Walmart. Keep an eye out for the limited-time Strength Has No Gender™ pack! Let’s all support the #StrengthHasNoGender initiative!
brawny-store
Celebrate female empowerment this year with Brawny®’s Strength Has No Gender™ campaign. Who is your SHEro?


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