African American Women in Science: Experiences from High School through the Post-Secondary Years and Beyond

The Contribution of HBCUS to the Preparation of African American Women for Stem Careers: A Case Study

“…Like prior research (Hanson 2004;Leslie et al 1998;VanLeuvan 2004;VanLangen and Dekkers 2005), findings from this study suggest that barriers to the educational attainment of African American women in STEM fields begin during elementary and secondary school. Nonetheless, the findings also suggest the role that colleges and universities may play in ensuring that individuals who enter their institutions with an interest in a STEM career can achieve their goal.…”

Gendered Expectations: Examining How Peers Shape Female Students' Intent to Pursue STEM Fields

“…Such a focus is very limited and does not capture the changing demographics of the U.S., particularly for the student-age population (Ayscue and Orfield, 2016). Regarding gender patterns in STEM, national studies have documented relatively similar gaps in interest and attainment that favor men across different racial/ethnic groups (Hanson, 2006; Riegle-Crumb and King, 2010; Xie et al, 2015); yet of course these patterns do not mean that the obstacles and experiences that shape Hispanic females' STEM choices, for example, are necessarily similar to those that are most relevant for white females. Our study therefore aims to contribute to the small body of extant research that examines gender disparities in STEM among a diverse population, with an eye towards understanding how experiences of social inclusion and exclusion might matter for girls from non-dominant backgrounds.…”

Predicting High School Students’ Interest in Majoring in a STEM Field: Insight into High School Students’ Postsecondary Plans

“…Potential earnings influence Asian women's choice of STEM major more than White women, particularly for Chinese, Filipino, and Southeast Asian women (Song & Glick, 2004). White women historically view familial obligations and occupational pursuits as exclusive endeavors, which results in their favoring jobs that offer more flexibility than those in the STEM sector so that temporary leaves from the workforce will allow them time to raise a family (Hanson, 2004). In addition to social expectations and life factors, women tend to select majors based on different reasons and values as compared to men, with women placing less importance on potential career earnings and more importance on jobs that allow them to nurture others (Turner & Bowen, 1999;Wiswall & Zafar, 2012).…”