Numerous studies continue to explore the reasons for women's persistent underrepresentation in engineering education. While a large body of research has documented how the field's affiliation with masculinity deters women, rarely has sufficient consideration been given to asking women why they pursue engineering majors. Using data from 35 in-depth interviews with racially diverse women, I analyzed women's accounts of choosing engineering majors. Drawing on the sociological perspective known as undoing gender, I find that women describe how their families encouraged an interest in engineering by helping them challenge the connection between masculinity and engineering. The findings
also revealed how career advice from teachers is influential in shaping their choices. Contrary to research showing that engineering careers are often unattractive to women, women frame engineering as a profession befitting of their professional and future family plans. The findings suggest that engineering does appeal to women in certain contexts and provides implications and ideas for educators
and engineering outreach programs seeking to recruit women to the profession.