She responded:

I am Pavel's mom who was born and raised in USSR. I don't think that being an engineer was the only route for a woman to become educated - women could become doctors or teachers as well. As a matter of fact there were more female doctors and teachers than male. Accountant degree was also very popular and obtainable among women. I think that credo may be right - it is societal and cultural pressure that prevent girls from going into these fields.