A different perspective on women in math, science, and engineering

I must admit at the outset of this post that my perspective of women in the sciences must be different from the norm. If you've read any of my other posts, you know that I am a trained engineer. What I haven't disclosed is that my aunt is also an engineer (metallurgical) and my mother a physician. So, I grew up assuming and knowing that women are very capable of succeeding in math, science, and engineering - it was my norm. I attended Spelman College (all female HBCU) which was and still is rich with women in math, science and engineering. I pledged a sorority at GA Tech (which is where I obtained my engineering degree) and there were 20 of us that pledged together and all but one of us were science or engineering majors. The concept of there being some "issue" of women in the sciences was not my reality. It wasn't until I started interacting with people and women NOT in the sciences that I began to realize that there is some idea floating out there that women can't or don't do science and engineering because they are women. Now, granted, I know that more men go into the sciences, but I have a hard time instantly attributing that to women/girls being intimidated by the field. Maybe it's the people who are always talking about the "issue" that are actually creating the issue - like a self-fulfilling prophecy. :-) No one EVER told me or even mentioned to me while I was coming up that women are scarce in the sciences, or that it was hard or too hard for girls, etc., etc. I just don't get it....
Now, I was moved to write about my perspective because of the article by Haller, et. al. about cooperative learning in an introductory engineering course. It was mentioned throughout the article that groups should be designed with consideration for gender make-up. It was even stated that "several studies of cooperative learning indicate that setting up engineering groups to include only one female jeopardizes the female's chances of a full participatory role in the group." The article went on to admit that data was limited in the studies and this suggestion needs to be further investigated. Let me offer that it may not be a gender issue, but a personality issue. In many of my classes I was the only female (the aerospace discipline was not highly populated) and for two years, in my steady study group of 3, I was the only female. If you talked to other female engineers I'd bet they could affirm this by citing their own experiences. As the only female, it was not difficult for me to speak up, participate, learn, or teach in my groups or classes. But that's my personality. IMHO I think society should give women a little more credit for what they are capable of, and not beat itself up if women happen to choose to go into law instead of engineering :-)