Gender Equity in College Majors: Looking Beyond the STEM/Non-STEM Dichotomy for Answers Regarding Female Participation

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen M. Ganley ◽  
Casey E. George ◽  
Joseph R. Cimpian ◽  
Martha B. Makowski
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Gender Bias ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
College Major ◽  
College Majors ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Els 2002 ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

Women are underrepresented in many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and in some non-STEM majors (e.g., philosophy). Combining newly gathered data on students’ perceptions of college major traits with data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002), we find that perceived gender bias against women emerges as the dominant predictor of the gender balance in college majors. The perception of the major being math or science oriented is less important. We replicate these findings using a separate sample to measure college major traits. Results suggest the need to incorporate major-level traits in research on gender gaps in college major choices and the need to recognize the impact of perceptions of potential gender discrimination on college major choices.

Examining High School Students’ Gendered Beliefs about Math: Predictors and Implications for Choice of STEM College Majors

2021 ◽  
pp. 003804072110147
Author(s):  
Catherine Riegle-Crumb ◽  
Menglu Peng
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
School Students ◽  
College Majors ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Math Ability ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
And Mathematics

Utilizing the High School Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students, this study investigates the factors that predict different beliefs about gendered math ability and the potential consequences for students’ choices to enter gender-segregated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in college. Among other results, analyses reveal that while about 25 percent of students report a traditionally stereotypical belief in male superiority, about 20 percent report a counter-stereotypical belief in female superiority; among female students, such beliefs are more common among black students. Further, models reveal a robust association between holding counter-stereotypical beliefs and the likelihood that women choose biological science majors, which are female dominated, compared to non-STEM fields. Among men, holding counter-stereotypical beliefs is associated with a lower likelihood of majoring in physical science, computer science, math, and engineering fields, which are strongly male dominated, versus non-STEM fields. Implications for gender inequality in STEM fields are discussed.

The impact of fleeting exposure to female exemplars of success in STEM

2020 ◽  
pp. 136843022097547
Author(s):  
Megan K. McCarty ◽  
Janice R. Kelly ◽  
Kipling D. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Self Esteem ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Academic Environments ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
Meaningful Existence ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mixed Gender

Two studies tested the impact of subtle cues that associate masculinity with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) success on women’s STEM experiences. Study 1 was a field study conducted in a university campus engineering building where photos of graduating classes were displayed. In Study 2, STEM majors viewed a mock website that depicted either exclusively male or mixed-gender STEM students. Across both studies, women reported greater fundamental need threat—a composite of threats to belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence—after viewing photos of exclusively male STEM students than did men. This gender effect disappeared when photos included female STEM students. Direct effects of gender and photo condition on career intentions were not observed, but indirect effects were obtained through need threat. Thus, because fleeting exposure to subtle background images associating STEM success with masculinity can negatively impact women’s fundamental needs, cues in academic environments should be carefully considered.

Stepping Onto the STEM Pathway

2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 876-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy N. Heilbronner
Keyword(s):  
Survey Methodology ◽  
College Major ◽  
Academic Experiences ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Talent Search ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Hands On ◽  
And Mathematics

Despite a growing national need to develop capabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), many men and women who are considered talented in these areas during high school choose not to pursue STEM undergraduate majors. A purpose of the current study was to better understand factors that contribute to an individual’s formal entry into the domain through the declaration of a STEM college major. Survey methodology was used to explore the perceptions of 360 Science Talent Search semifinalists and finalists from the years 1987 to 1989 and 1997 to 1999, and quantitative procedures were used to analyze the data. A majority (74.2%) of these students declared STEM majors and went on to graduate with STEM degrees. Belief in one’s ability to achieve in STEM and the quality of students’ academic experiences (level of challenge, hands-on nature, and adequacy of preparation for careers) were predictors of STEM majors in college. Reasons for attrition and implications for practice are discussed.

Persistence of Latinas in STEM at an R1 Higher Education Institution in Texas

2020 ◽  
pp. 153819272091836
Author(s):  
Elsa Gonzalez ◽  
Cecilia Contreras Aguirre ◽  
Joenie Myers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Resilience Theory ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Latina Students ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
And Mathematics

This study examined the success and persistence of Latina students in the complex environment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at a Tier 1 Research higher education institution in Texas. For this qualitative study, 10 Latina students pursuing STEM majors were interviewed within a framework focusing on Greene’s resilience theory. Results of this study suggest a strong likelihood for Latinas to succeed in STEM fields because of their development of resilience.

Expertise in STEM Disciplines

2019 ◽  
pp. 528-550
Author(s):  
David F. Feldon ◽  
Soojeong Jeong ◽  
Joana Franco
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expert Performance ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
New Directions ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

Enhancing expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is vital to promoting both the intellectual and economic development of a modern society. This chapter synthesizes relevant studies on the acquisition and development of STEM expertise from different areas of research, including cognitive psychology, the psychology of science, sociology and anthropology, and educational research. Specifically, first, the structure of relevant STEM disciplines in conceptualizing the domain of expertise are discussed. Then the fundamental mechanisms of thinking and problem-solving practices in science and engineering that underlie expert performance within these disciplines are presented. Issues pertaining to assessment and recognition of expertise in STEM fields are also examined. Lastly, evidence pertaining to the impact of training and education on the development of STEM expertise is reviewed. The chapter closes with a critical analysis of STEM expertise research to date and identifies unanswered critical questions and new directions for future research.

Supporting the STEM Pipeline: Linking Applied STEM Course-Taking in High School to Declaring a STEM Major in College

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Robert Bozick
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
College Major ◽  
Major Choice ◽  
Longitudinal Survey ◽  
College Major Choice ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Stem Pipeline ◽  
Stem Major ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Scientific Fields

Recently, through the support from the Obama administration, the traditional STEM curricula (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in high schools are being updated with integrated, applied STEM courses (e.g., technology and engineering) in order to enhance the “real world” applicability of scientific fields and ultimately to strengthen the link between what students learn in high school and college major choice. Using longitudinal survey and transcript data, this study examines whether taking these applied STEM courses in high school can predict higher odds of declaring a STEM major in college. The findings reveal that taking applied STEM courses in high school is associated with a higher probability of declaring a STEM college major for four-year students. Moreover, applied STEM course-taking is highly predictive of declaring an applied STEM major. Implications are discussed.

Documenting the impact of multisite evaluations on the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics field

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (129) ◽  
pp. 39-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Roseland ◽  
Lija O. Greenseid ◽  
Boris B. Volkov ◽  
Frances Lawrenz
Keyword(s):  
Science Technology ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact
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