There are some cultural differences between the USA and UK that are less obvious than others (hang in there, this is relevant, honest!) It didn't really occur to me until fairly recently, but over in the US whenever you get a lawyer, sportsman, engineer, architect or whatever that is of Afro / Caribbean descent, they always seem to be "tagged" as a black lawyer, a black baseball player, a black whatever. I can understand the need to celebrate "firsts" and the coming of true equality, but after a time it becomes a double edged sword and starts to divide more than it unites.
Here in the UK they are just a lawyer, football player etc. What they do is not overshadowed by what colour their skin is, or any other attribute. There is still a huge way to go with racial equality here, but simply not tagging people with their colour has removed psychological barriers that I think are still well and truly present in other countries. I think the same might be the case with women engineers. The promotion and celebration of women in engineering is becoming an obstacle, with well meaning but condescending pats on the back and "oh you are so clever, I could never do that".
I believe engineers are made in childhood. I bet if you talked to the parents of most of us on this thread, they would say exactly the same about us. Always taking things apart to see how they worked. Making things, breaking things, asking questions. This is where the support for women in engineering must be, not aimed at 18-30 year olds. By then it is too late.
Personally, my observation is that female engineers undoubtedly see some things differently to men. Not better, not worse, just differently. Subtly different approaches that can often cut through a problem (or equally miss something a man might see straight away), this can act like a catalyst in a team and really boost productivity. So long as none of the men are utter idiots from the 1950s who think their masculinity is threatened by someone with a better idea. In which case, it isn't the woman who is the problem.