Tolu Wani

AddedSunday, August 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM

Can I major in mechanical engineering as a Muslim girl?

I'm passionate about maths, physics, and problem-solving, and I'd love to, but I worry that my dress will limit my opportunities. By dress I mean not only the headscarf but also the other aspects of hijab, such as not showing the form.

I'm very interested in engineering and would greatly prefer a job that is not 100% at a desk, but I am not sure if it would be sensible to major in it because I haven't seen workwear that meets the conditions of hijab & is appropriate for various work floor conditions - for example, is safe around moving machinery? I wouldn't like to get into it then face very limited job opportunities because I am avoiding this or that. I feel that there must be workarounds and I just don't know them.

I've seen what female engineers at Gulf companies like ADNOC wear on oil rigs, but I don't know if such clothing is suitable for a variety of roles in engineering (mechanical or electrical, to be precise, as those are the two I intent to choose between). I also don't know where such workwear can be purchased. Are there drop-crotch overalls, for example?

Any help would be appreciated.