The Hoodie-and-Glasses Years: Hiding as a Woman in STEM

A guy once called me "engineering hot."Not just attractive. Attractive for an engineer.Adjusted for major.Rated on a curve.At eighteen years old, entering Penn State's engineering program, I laughed it off. But beneath that comment was a message I had already started absorbing:That women are supposed to choose between being smart and being attractive.That confidence can be mistaken for flirting.That visibility comes with consequences.And that sometimes the easiest way to survive in a male-dominated environment is to become invisible.In this episode, I'm sharing what it was like navigating engineering school, entering the workforce as a woman in STEM, and realizing how much energy I spent trying to manage other people's perceptions of me.From hiding behind hoodies and avoiding attention to learning how to take up space without apologizing for it, this is a conversation about identity, confidence, workplace culture, and the subtle ways women learn to make themselves smaller.We'll talk about the impossible double standards women face, the pressure to be taken seriously, and what happens when you stop editing yourself to make other people comfortable.Most importantly, we'll talk about the freedom that comes from showing up as your full, authentic self.In This Episode✅ The "engineering hot" comment that stayed with me for years✅ Growing up in a large engineering program at Penn State✅ The stereotype that women can't be both intelligent and attractive✅ Navigating engineering school as a woman in STEM✅ Double standards, workplace perceptions, and professional identity✅ Why I tried to become invisible at work✅ How authenticity became more valuable than approval✅ The surprising realization that hiding wasn't protecting me✅ Confidence, self-worth, and learning to take up space✅ Why women shouldn't have to shrink themselves to be taken seriouslyTopics CoveredWomen in STEMWomen in EngineeringWorkplace ConfidenceCareer DevelopmentProfessional IdentityGender StereotypesEngineering SchoolSTEM CareersAuthentic LeadershipWorkplace CultureSelf-WorthConfidence BuildingCorporate CulturePersonal GrowthFemale EngineersTaking Up SpaceAuthenticity at WorkProfessional WomenIf you've ever felt like you needed to make yourself smaller to fit in, this episode is for you.Whether you're in engineering, tech, finance, healthcare, leadership, or any environment where you've felt pressure to edit parts of yourself, I hope this conversation reminds you of something important:You don't need to choose between being competent and being yourself.And if anyone ever calls you "engineering hot"?You're hot.Period.📸 Instagram: @shesbeenthroughsomeshit🎥 YouTube: She's Been Through Some Shit💛 Enjoying the podcast? Follow the show so you never miss an episode. If this conversation resonated with you, leaving a rating and review helps more people discover the podcast and supports future episodes about career growth, confidence, workplace culture, and life as a woman in STEM. Thank you for being here.