Men outnumber women in the enrollment of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate majors. Course syllabi are distributed to students during open enrollment and provide key insights into the courses. A critical discourse analysis of introductory engineering syllabi at a 4-year public university revealed limited to no…

This chapter synthesizes research on women in STEM undergraduate fields and aims to sharpen our empirical and theoretical frameworks for future higher education research. Institutional research implications are discussed here and throughout the volume.

The continued lack of women pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and careers is detrimental to the quality of life of women, their families, and society as a whole as a result of decreased access to higher paying STEM jobs. An increasing number of women are attending college, yet very little research addresses…

Women and people of color continue to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), even while STEM fields are faced with recruitment issues and shortages of workers. Mathematics textbooks may be complicit in this issue, with past research indicating that textbooks are not fairly representing women and people of…

The present study aims to identify potential barriers that women in the United Arab Emirates might face if they pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). For this purpose, a systematic review and subsequent applied analysis of the UAE context was developed. The systematic review was reported in accordance with the…

Research on women in STEM often silences the voices of minoritized populations, such as women of color, inpart because the most commonly used theoretical frameworks do not center or contextualize their experiences. This chapter highlights the importance of critical perspectives and methodologies such as intersectionality in research design. We…

This research is an exploratory study that focused on describing the experiences of adult students who identify themselves as women enrolled in male-dominated Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) career pathway programs at a large Midwestern multi-campus community college. The study was undertaken to build on the research of women in…

Numbers of women in the physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering are growing, yet women are still far outnumbered by men at upper levels of those fields. The purpose of the study is to review the literature on academic women who develop exceptional talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Data sources included 18…

While previous research documents that women in STEM doctoral programs tend to fare better when their advisor shares their gender identity, this study provides new insights into the role of student-advisor gender identity congruence, relying on a longitudinal sample of doctoral students in biology and using structural equation and latent growth…

The limited number of women persisting in STEM degree programs and pursuing STEM careers is concerning, particularly when one considers the absence of minority women in this field. One way of addressing this issue is to explore avenues that build women's STEM self-efficacy. Providing connections with other more experienced women involved in STEM…

Efforts to diversify STEM fields have not completely eliminated higher rates of women leaving certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, such as geosciences. A diverse mentorship network is linked to persistence in STEM among college students, but little is known about how it leads to persistence. In particular,…

Implicit biases can foster negative attitudes and lead to damaging stereotypical behaviors. Stereotypes can negatively affect the education, hiring, promotion, and retention of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This study evaluated the impact of diversity training on university faculty (N=234) by assessing changes…

Afro-Caribbean women initially construct their science identity outside of the United States in unique sociocultural contexts where Black is the dominant racial group and British-styled instruction remains intact. Afro-Caribbean women often experience the "triple threat" minoritizing effects of being Black, female, and…

The underrepresentation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and computer science) has attracted considerable attention, and many have wondered whether women are more likely than men to quit STEM programs at university. Using data from the Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform (ELMLP), this study follows…

Underrepresented minority women in STEM comprise the faculty group most likely to leave academia. To address this issue we instituted a program called "Amplifying Voices," a virtual, mutual mentoring program linking four groups of six women across 20 institutions. We facilitated bi-weekly Zoom meetings for two years and evaluated the…