“…Scholars describe the STEM culture as hostile, competitive, objective, masculine, and individualistic (Carter et al, 2019; E. O. McGee & Martin, 2011; Miller et al, 2021; Smith et al, 2023). As a result, SOCs in STEM are often “othered” and experience gender and racial exclusion and discrimination that makes it difficult to persist (Fernández et al, 2023; Leyva, 2016; Miller et al, 2021).…”