“It’s Pushed Me to Help Others”: The Relationship of Racial Identities and Students’ Career Choices

• In Event: College Identity Development in Students

Abstract

This study examines the roles of racial/ethnic and gender identity on students’ choices of major and career paths. We were interested in the roles that students’ gender and race/ethnicity play in their undergraduate academic experiences and career goals. We interviewed 96 African American and Latino/a students in three universities who participated in undergraduate research in 2006-2009. Previous literature outlines ways in which underrepresented minority students do not persist in STEM majors. Most of the students we interviewed experienced high salience for racial and ethnic identity. The students connected their identity with future career choices and when they saw barriers, they seemed to have the motivation to achieve their goals despite their feelings of isolation and experiences of discrimination.

Authors

• Deborah F. Carter, Claremont Graduate University

• Julio J. Cardona, University of Michigan

• Gloryvee Lisa Fonseca-Bolorin, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Carmen Michele McCallum, Michigan State University

• Julie Renee Posselt, University of Michigan