Tech-Savvy Black Girls: Countering the Narrative That Black Girls Are Not Interested in STEM

• In Event: 61.070 - Sheraton Roundtable 10 - Osgoode Ballroom
  In Roundtable Session: 61.070-6 - Remixing Narratives on Education: Black Girls, Central American Youth, and Insurgent Feminism

Abstract

In this qualitative study, the authors use 390 application responses to a leadership conference to investigate how Black girls discuss their technological experiences. Specifically, the authors use a counternarrative framework to counter the narrative that Black girls are not interested in STEM and illustrate that: (1) Black girls consider technology will be important in their future, (2) Lack of resources serve as obstacles for career development, and (3) Black girls seek out alternative ways to learn technology in ways they consider will be important for their future careers. We conclude with considerations on how these findings could impact STEM curriculum.

Authors

• Cecilia Henriquez Fernandez, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Patricia Garcia, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Ashley Nicole Jackson, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• Syeda Zaynab Mahmood, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor