> It likely worsens broadly if a woman knows exactly 0 women who are engineers as she grows up and considers a career for herself. She might not know any engineering is a viable path.
This was why I didn't get into STEM initially. It's not that I thought that engineering culture was toxic per se, but rather because the women I knew growing up didn't have careers, much less careers in technology.
I don't have much to add to this, but I relate completely. I can feel myself mentally deteriorating as I repeatedly choose to take the path of least resistance for optimum entertainment, which in turn just leads to increased boredom.