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Artículos

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): Publicación Continua

Space Invaders in Engineering: Gender, Body, Epistemic Experience, and Belonging among Engineering Students in Chile

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7770/rgs-v1n1-art26
Submitted
January 18, 2026
Published
2026-04-24

Abstract

Gender studies in engineering have gained significant momentum in recent decades, particularly those examining disciplinary culture. However, much remains to be explored regarding embodied and spatial perspectives. This article contributes to understanding the relationship between embodied experience, knowledge experience, and the sense of belonging among women and other feminized bodies in engineering. Drawing on empirical data from 15 focus groups conducted across five universities in three cities in Chile, and using an inductive qualitative approach, we show how the masculine somatic norm on engineering campuses continues to shape who is heard within the field of knowledge. This norm constrains the recognition of “bodies perceived as out of place” as legitimate bearers of knowledge. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between gender, body, and knowledge within engineering student communities.

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