The Role of Mentoring on the Retention of Women From Diverse Backgrounds in STEM

2021 ◽  
pp. 271-310
Author(s):  
Patricia Denise J. Lopez ◽  
Anna Duran
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Women Of Color ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women

Women continue to be underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. This is concerning because STEM is a key driver of innovation and global competitiveness. STEM jobs in the United States are growing at a faster rate than other occupations, but there remains a shortage of qualified applicants. Women from diverse racial and ethnic groups represent an underutilized resource. However, they face multiple challenges as they enter the field, develop a STEM identity, progress in their education, and pursue and persist in STEM occupations. This chapter summarizes the key reasons for why there continues to be an underrepresentation of women (especially women of color) within STEM. It then discusses the role and impact of mentoring as well as the competencies required for effective mentoring. Finally, it presents recommendations for advancing mentorship efforts for women from diverse backgrounds within STEM.

Grace under Fire

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Thomas ◽  
Jill Drake
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Career Aspirations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Social Experiences ◽  
Stem Fields ◽  
Industrialized Nations ◽  
The World ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women ◽  
And Mathematics

Understanding why women are underrepresented in various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields remains an important area of research. In the United States and in many industrialized nations around the world, STEM professions remain male dominated. Explanations for why women are not participating STEM professions are many and diverse. The Ecology Systems Theory (EST) presents a lens through which the causes for the continued underrepresentation of women in STEM fields may be examined. EST is widely accepted theoretical framework for exploring the influences that contribute to the development of an individual. The study presented in this chapter explored the familial, educational, economic, and social experiences of 125 female participants working in a STEM field. Findings suggest there are influences at specific levels in EST that can and do affect the educational and career aspirations of women in relationship to STEM fields.

The Role of Gender and Sensation Seeking in Film Choice

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita C. Banerjee ◽  
Kathryn Greene ◽  
Marina Krcmar ◽  
Zhanna Bagdasarov ◽  
Dovile Ruginyte
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
Happy Mood

This study demonstrates the significance of individual difference factors, particularly gender and sensation seeking, in predicting media choice (examined through hypothetical descriptions of films that participants anticipated they would view). This study used a 2 (Positive mood/negative mood) × 2 (High arousal/low arousal) within-subject design with 544 undergraduate students recruited from a large northeastern university in the United States. Results showed that happy films and high arousal films were preferred over sad films and low-arousal films, respectively. In terms of gender differences, female viewers reported a greater preference than male viewers for happy-mood films. Also, male viewers reported a greater preference for high-arousal films compared to female viewers, and female viewers reported a greater preference for low-arousal films compared to male viewers. Finally, high sensation seekers reported a preference for high-arousal films. Implications for research design and importance of exploring media characteristics are discussed.

The link between coronavirus, anxiety, and religious beliefs in the United States and United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Rigoli
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Cultural Implications ◽  
The Impact

Research has shown that stress impacts on people’s religious beliefs. However, several aspects of this effect remain poorly understood, for example regarding the role of prior religiosity and stress-induced anxiety. This paper explores these aspects in the context of the recent coronavirus emergency. The latter has impacted dramatically on many people’s well-being; hence it can be considered a highly stressful event. Through online questionnaires administered to UK and USA citizens professing either Christian faith or no religion, this paper examines the impact of the coronavirus crisis upon common people’s religious beliefs. We found that, following the coronavirus emergency, strong believers reported higher confidence in their religious beliefs while non-believers reported increased scepticism towards religion. Moreover, for strong believers, higher anxiety elicited by the coronavirus threat was associated with increased strengthening of religious beliefs. Conversely, for non-believers, higher anxiety elicited by the coronavirus thereat was associated with increased scepticism towards religious beliefs. These observations are consistent with the notion that stress-induced anxiety enhances support for the ideology already embraced before a stressful event occurs. This study sheds light on the psychological and cultural implications of the coronavirus crisis, which represents one of the most serious health emergencies in recent times.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document