Sister Scientist Outsider: Social Network Analysis of Women of Color Community College STEM Majors

• In Event: Gender, STEM, and Higher Education: Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

In feminist standpoint theory, the marginal locations that women inhabit in academia and society at large cultivate an oppositional consciousness that may enrich their perspective and contribute to diverse ways of thinking. Few studies have explored the social location and networks of community college STEM majors, especially women of color. This study maps ego-centered networks of 30 women of color majoring in varied STEM disciplines at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) community college in Los Angeles. In a social network questionnaire, participants nominated individuals that have influenced the ways they think critically. Preliminary results show primary influences to critical thinking skills primarily consist of family members, oftentimes with no high school or college degrees.

Author

• Melo-Jean Yap, University of California - Los Angeles