Latinas/os' Roots of STEM Participation: Are There Gender Differences?

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Aspirations, Intentions, Values, and Imagination: Understanding Career and Academic Choices and Trajectories

Abstract

This research examines important family, high school and college level characteristics in explaining Latino/a students’ interest in STEM and declaration of STEM as a major in North Carolina. Additionally, it tests if there are significant gender differences in the Latino/as’ students roots of STEM. We utilize a mixed methods approach to better assess these relationships. Preliminary findings show that factors traditionally linked with a general sample of students’ interest and declaration of STEM are not necessarily related to Latino/a students’ STEM participation. Additionally, our data shows that there are important gender differences in the Latino/as’ roots of STEM. Educational policies aimed at diversifying the STEM workforce should consider that one policy does not “fit” all students in the U.S.

Authors

• Martha Cecilia Bottia, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Elizabeth Stearns, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Roslyn Arlin Mickelson, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Stephanie Moller, University of North Carolina - Charlotte