Black Women and Latinas in Engineering Professions: Diversity, Equity, and Human Capital Investments

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Careers in the Professions: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations

Abstract

There have been persistent conversations about the need to expand participation in engineering with an emphasis on increasing diversity efforts. As part of this discourse, it is important to examine engineering outcomes for Black women and Latinas who often occupy a space of double underrepresentation in this field based upon the intersection of their race and gender. Guided by human capital theory, this study explores the engineering subfields that confer a high level of baccalaureate awards to these groups. We also examine the alignment between these human capital investments and projected engineering employment demands. Overall, the findings suggest that while progress has been made, there is still more work to be done to address other inequities for these groups.

Authors

• Krystal L. Williams, University of Georgia - Athens

• Eugene L. Anderson, University of Virginia