Engineering Ethics ENGR001 – Sample
Midterm Exam Q&A
Question 1:
Case of “not being taken seriously” as engineer because of gender. Read the
following, answer the questions at the end of the test and discuss.
Answer 1:
a) What should Judy do?
Judy, Jack, and Tom are at a dinner meeting i.e. a social event. Thus, the
situation that occurred between Judy and Jack is an ethical issue. From the passage,
we know that Judy believes that stereotypes about women in engineering are
diminishing as she graduated from a school where more than 20% of her classmates
were woman. In addition, we know that she, being the only woman in her job division
and after one year of work, still feels the need to prove herself and to be taken
seriously. Therefore, it is understandable why she was taken aback by Jack’s
comment although she enjoyed “talking-shop” with him. However, Jack’s intentions
are unknown as neither his perspective of the situation nor the tone and intonation of
his voice were shown. Hence, one can only speculate whether Jack is intentionally
malicious or obliviously sarcastic by his comment.
Judy has two options: to brush it off or to explain her perspective to Jack. Taking
the first route, she risks that he repeats such comments later to her or other women.
On the other hand, following the second route minimizes that risk, might make Jack
address others more properly, and strengthens her character. Also it is worthy to note
1
Midterm Exam Q&A
Question 1:
Case of “not being taken seriously” as engineer because of gender. Read the
following, answer the questions at the end of the test and discuss.
Answer 1:
a) What should Judy do?
Judy, Jack, and Tom are at a dinner meeting i.e. a social event. Thus, the
situation that occurred between Judy and Jack is an ethical issue. From the passage,
we know that Judy believes that stereotypes about women in engineering are
diminishing as she graduated from a school where more than 20% of her classmates
were woman. In addition, we know that she, being the only woman in her job division
and after one year of work, still feels the need to prove herself and to be taken
seriously. Therefore, it is understandable why she was taken aback by Jack’s
comment although she enjoyed “talking-shop” with him. However, Jack’s intentions
are unknown as neither his perspective of the situation nor the tone and intonation of
his voice were shown. Hence, one can only speculate whether Jack is intentionally
malicious or obliviously sarcastic by his comment.
Judy has two options: to brush it off or to explain her perspective to Jack. Taking
the first route, she risks that he repeats such comments later to her or other women.
On the other hand, following the second route minimizes that risk, might make Jack
address others more properly, and strengthens her character. Also it is worthy to note
1
