Importance of Visibility for Women in Aerospace

Earlier this year we watched the first civil aviation supersonic jet, the Boom XB-1, take its first supersonic flight in the Mojave Desert. This was an incredible moment for the global aviation industry. This futuristic feat of engineering got me thinking: Why are we making such impressive advancements in aviation, yet struggling so much with female representation within the industry? The Boom Jet flight happened to coincide with the release of the FAA statistics for female pilots in 2024. From 2010 to 2024, the total percentage of female pilots in the U.S. has risen from 5.4% to 7.3%. This small increase—a mere 1.9% over 14 years—demonstrates just how far aviation has to go in terms of being an equal workforce. This disparity is even more striking when juxtaposed with the rapid advancements in flight performance and engineering across all areas of aviation. When discussing the lack of female representation in traditionally male-dominated aviation fields, the conversation often focuses on women themselves: Do women really want to become pilots or engineers? Do they possess the necessary skills and attributes for the job? But how often do we critically examine the industry itself—the infrastructure, design, and workplace policies? Are women actively choosing not to enter aviation, or was the industry never designed to accommodate them in the first place? To emphasise this point, only 9% of women in the U.S. Air Force currently meet the sizing criteria for the F-15 fighter jet. This suggests that the very design of aircraft limits opportunities for women, rather than their abilities or ambitions. A 2024 survey of women in UK aviation further illustrates the systemic barriers they face: • 45% of women do not have sanitary provisions at their airfield or workplace. • 64% are not aware of any menopause support provided by their employer. • 84.5% have witnessed or experienced sexism in aviation. • 62.6% have experienced gender discrimination in the workplace. • 70.8% feel that taking maternity leave has a negative impact on their career. These statistics reveal deep-rooted issues in workplace culture, policies, and infrastructure that make aviation an unwelcoming environment for women. While the aviation industry continues to push the boundaries of technology and engineering, it remains constrained by outdated gender disparities. The slow increase in female representation, coupled with persistent systemic barriers, highlights a critical need for change. Rather than questioning whether women are interested or capable, we must examine the industry's infrastructure, culture, and policies that have historically excluded them. True progress in aviation should not be measured solely by technological advancements but also by the inclusivity and diversity of those who propel the industry forward. Addressing these challenges is not just a matter of equality—it is essential for the future of aviation. #internationalwomensday #womeninaviation

Six women headed to space yesterday in what Blue Origin is calling a historic all-female crew. But as a woman who's navigated male-dominated spaces throughout my career, I'm deeply conflicted about what this moment represents. The symbolism of the world's first "glam" space crew: The crew includes Lauren Sánchez (Bezos's fiancée), Katy Perry, Gayle King, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, producer Kerianne Flynn, and former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe. It's a diverse group of accomplished women, which in itself feels significant. Yet I can't stop thinking about Katy Perry's words: "Space is going to finally be glam. Let me tell you something. If I could take glam up with me, I would do that. We are going to put the 'ass' in astronaut." This framing raises complex questions about representation: 1. The mixed message problem: When Elle magazine proudly notes this will be "the first time anyone has been to space with their hair and makeup done," are we celebrating women's access to space or reducing their presence there to appearance? 2. The "exceptional woman" paradox: While highlighting accomplished women is important, does the celebrity focus perpetuate the idea that women need to be exceptional to earn their place in traditionally male domains? 3. The coded language concern: Would we ever describe an all-male crew as "putting the 'ass' in astronaut"? Does this language reinforce the idea that women's achievements must be packaged with femininity to be palatable? What genuine progress might look like: True representation isn't just about having women present—it's about changing the fundamental structures that have limited women's access. The first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, flew solo in 1963. Six decades later, should we be celebrating that women can now access space with their "hair and makeup done," or should we be asking why women remain severely underrepresented in aerospace engineering, astrophysics, and astronautics? The questions I'm wrestling with: → Is this reinforcing stereotypes while appearing to break them? The focus on glamour and appearance sends mixed messages about what female achievement looks like and what we should celebrate. → Does representation matter even when packaged in problematic framing? Perhaps getting more girls and women interested in space through any means is progress—even if the messaging is imperfect. → When women enter male-dominated spaces, must they choose between being "one of the boys" or leaning into hyper-feminine presentation? Is there room for authentic self-expression? → Is this moment a genuine step forward for women in space, or primarily a calculated distraction in the billionaire space race that co-opts feminist language for commercial gain? What do you think? Share your perspective below 👇 Photo: Blue Origin ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to share with your network.  ⚡ Want more content like this? Hit follow Maya Moufarek.

Who gets to go to space is a moral question. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)'s first global report on gender equality in the space sector shows that women make up only 30% of the public space workforce. That figure drops to: • 24% of managers • 21% of leaders • 19% of board members • 11% of all astronauts It's a familiar story I've heard many times over the past two decades in tech, and before that, construction. We often speak about diversity in terms of how it benefits businesses - and whilst that's important, with space there is a wider angle to consider. If we believe in democracy, then all parts of society need to be represented in society's most important endeavours. And that includes those who work in space - so all have a voice in shaping humanity's next frontier. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty made it clear that space must be explored for the benefit and in the interests of all countries. If we reproduce inequality in space, we violate that core principle - and risk carrying the same biases that limit us on Earth into the rest of the universe. This report is a first step to address gender inequality in space. You can read my Substack exploring more of its themes here: https://lnkd.in/emfXwTAE ID: STS-131 mission specialists Stephanie Wilson of NASA, Naoko Yamazaki of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger of NASA, and Expedition 23 flight engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson (top left) work at the robotics workstation on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA, 2010.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the Blue Origin all-female space flight...as long as we put it in proper context. Representation like this is good—and worth noticing. But it only becomes powerful when we place it in context. I’m always here for celebrating visibility. As long as we’re also honest about what’s still missing. Because this feels familiar. It’s like casting one or two Black actors... while keeping Black creatives locked out of the writing room, the director’s chair, the production team. It looks like progress. But often, it’s just diversity in optics. Not in authorship. Not in ownership. And that distinction matters. Because when we skip the context, celebration turns into complacency. We start to confuse visibility with equity. Presence with power. Representation is a vital starting point. But it’s not the finish line. Inclusion is the point. And when it’s missing, it shows. If this resonated, I write more like it. 📖 Clarity of Thought — A book for leaders who want to move with intention, not noise: https://lnkd.in/gJKkDM3Q 🗞 Clarity Over Noise — my newsletter on leadership, systems, and seeing clearly in chaos: https://lnkd.in/g-xQGJsv