Examining Gender Essentialist Beliefs and Their Association With Beliefs About Engineering Among College Engineering Majors

• In Event: Higher Education, Mobility, and Stratification

Abstract

Utilizing surveys from college engineers across the country who are members of the Society for Women Engineers (SWE), the authors examine the existence of gender essentialist beliefs, defined as beliefs that men and women comprise distinct groups with innate and divergent abilities. While overall levels of endorsement of such beliefs is generally low, results reveal substantial variation, which is linked to respondents’ gender identities, as well as intersections of race and social class. Further, those who endorse gender essentialists beliefs are also more likely to view engineering as a meritocracy and to perceive women’s under-representation as resultant of their own shortcomings. Results underscore the importance of considering the heterogeneity of identities and perspectives of those who pursue engineering.

Authors

• Catherine C. Riegle-Crumb, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Ursula Nguyen, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
  Non-Presenting Author

• Tatiane Russo-Tait, University of Georgia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Franchesca Maria Lyra, University of Texas at Austin
  Non-Presenting Author