Where's my code? Engineers navigating ethical issues on an uneven terrain

Abstract

Claims to professionalism among engineers are rooted in three key features: a specialized knowledge base, self-regulation, and a commitment to public service-[1-3] elements that have been historically codified into a set of ethical guidelines [1, 4, 5]. While these guidelines-Professional Codes of Ethics-may help engineers appreciate what not to do [4, 5], they are insufficiently specific to guide novice engineers through ethically ambiguous situations. As early 20th century artefacts, they also tend to reproduce structural inequities embedded in the history of the profession, and thus fail to reflect the experiences of historically underrepresented groups of engineers [6-14]. The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board's (CEAB) pairing of ethics and equity [15] demands that we look beyond the codes to help our students navigate ethically ambiguous situations and patterns of privilege likely to arise in their professional lives. Unfortunately, there are several barriers to this process. Our critical analysis of career history interviews with 15 engineers committed to ethics and equity highlight three such barriers: 1) dominant narratives in engineering that make it difficult for social justice viewpoints to be acknowledged; 2) limited organizational influence on the part of junior engineers trying to challenge inequitable workplace practices; and 3) a fear that raising equity issues will result in personal attacks rather than positive change. Together, these three barriers-raised almost exclusively by female, racially under-represented, and LGBTQ identified engineers-illustrate the uneven terrain on which engineers navigate ethical issues.