Motivation in Queer-Spectrum Students in Interdisciplinary Feminist Biology Courses

• In Event: Engendering New Examinations of Gender: Norms, Stereotypes, and Motivation

Abstract

The United States has made a large push for research focusing on advancing opportunities in STEM for women, persons of color and persons with disabilities due to a lack of representation among these groups of people in STEM fields; however, there has been a lack of focus on increasing representation among queer-spectrum individuals in STEM fields. Indeed, researchers have shown that there is a lack of representation among queer-spectrum individuals in STEM, but it is unclear what might contribute to that lack of representation. The purpose of this paper was to take a first step at examining motivational differences between queer-spectrum and non-queer-spectrum students as motivation has been shown to be a precursor to STEM persistence.

Authors

• Patrick N. Beymer, University of Cincinnati
  Presenting Author

• Kelsey Lewis, University at Buffalo - SUNY
  Non-Presenting Author