Gonna Be An Engineer – Peggy Seeger

Celebrating the Resilience of Midlife Women Through Peggy Seeger’s ‘Gonna Be An Engineer’

Peggy Seeger’s iconic song Gonna Be An Engineer resonates deeply with the experiences of midlife women, reminding us of the enduring fight for equality and self-fulfilment. Written in the 1970s, the song’s message remains powerful today, especially for women who, at midlife, may be reflecting on their own journeys and the societal barriers they’ve encountered.

For many women in their 40s and beyond, Seeger’s lyrics are a rallying cry against the limitations traditionally placed on their ambitions. The song challenges the outdated notion that a woman’s primary role is domestic, shining a light on the frustration and resilience felt by those who were told they couldn’t pursue careers in fields dominated by men.

In midlife, women often find themselves at a crossroads—juggling careers, family responsibilities, and personal aspirations. Gonna Be An Engineer serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and the right to redefine oneself at any age. It’s a celebration of those who refuse to be confined by societal expectations, who continue to push boundaries and carve out spaces for themselves in fields where they were once told they didn’t belong.

As midlife women continue to break barriers in engineering, science, technology, and beyond, Peggy Seeger’s anthem is a powerful testament to the enduring strength and determination of women everywhere. It’s not just a song; it’s a declaration of independence, a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and rewrite the script of your life.

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Lyrics

When I was a little girl I wished I was a boy I tagged along behind the gang and wore my corduroys. Everybody said I only did it to annoy But I was gonna be an engineer Mamma said, “Why can’t you be a lady? Your duty is to make me the mother of a pearl Wait until you’re older, dear And maybe you ‘ll be glad that you’re a girl.

Dainty as a Dresden statue, Gentle as a Jersey cow, Gives cream and milk Learn to coo, learn to moo That’s what you do to be a lady, now I went to school I learned to write and how to read History, geography and home economy And typing is a skill that every girl is sure to need To while away the extra time until the time to breed And then they had the nerve to ask, what would I like to be?

I say, “I’m gonna be an engineer!” “No, you only need to learn to be a lady, for to try to run the world An engineer could never have a baby Remember, dear, that you’re a girl” She’s smart — for a woman. I wonder how she got that way?

You get no choice, you get no voice Just stay mum, pretend you’re dumb. That’s how you come to be a lady, today. Well, I started as a typist but I studied on the sly Working out the day and night so I could qualify And every time the boss came in, he pinched me on the thigh Said, “I’ve never had an engineer!”

“You owe it to the job to be a lady The duty of the staff is to give the boss a whirl The wages that you get are crummy, maybe But it’s all you get, ’cause you’re a girl” Then Jimmy came along and we set up a conjugation We were busy every night with loving recreation I spent my days at work so he could get an education And now he’s an engineer!

He said: “I know you’ll always be a lady. The duty of my darling is to love me all her life. Could an engineer look after or obey me? Remember, dear, that you’re my wife!” As soon as Jimmy got a job, I studied hard again Then busy at me turret-lathe a year or two, and then The morning that the twins were born, Jimmy says to them

“Your mother was an engineer!” “You owe it to the kids to be a lady Dainty as a dish-rag, faithful as a chow Stay at home, you got to mind the baby Remember you’re a mother now!” Every time I turn around there’s something else to do Cook a meal or mend a sock or sweep a floor or two Listening to Jimmy Young – it makes me want to spew

I was gonna be an engineer. I only wish that I could be a lady I’d do the lovely things that a lady’s supposed to do I wouldn’t even mind if only they would pay me Then I could be a person too. What price for a woman? You can buy her for a ring of gold, To love and obey, without any pay, You get a cook and a nurse for better or worse You don’t need a purse when a lady is sold.

Oh,but now the times are harder and me Jimmy’s got the sack; I went down to Vicker’s, they were glad to have me back. But I’m a third-class citizen, my wages tell me that But I’m a first-class engineer! The boss he says “We pay you as a lady, You only got the job because I can’t afford a man, With you I keep the profits high as may be, You’re just a cheaper pair of hands.”

You got one fault, you’re a woman; You’re not worth the equal pay. A bitch or a tart, you’re nothing but heart, Shallow and vain, you’ve got no brain, Well, I listened to my mother and I joined a typing pool Listened to my lover and I put him through his school If I listen to the boss, I’m just a bloody fool And an underpaid engineer I’ve been a sucker ever since I was a baby As a daughter, as a mother, as a lover, as a dear But I’ll fight them as a woman , not a lady I’ll fight them as an engineer!

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