Empowering Women of Color's STEM Self-Efficacy: A Mixed-Methods Case Study

• In Event: How Do We Get Girls in STEM?

Abstract

Historical and persistent exclusionary policies have led to an underrepresentation of women of color in STEM across the educational and career continuum. This mixed methods case study explores young women’s STEM self-efficacy at the beginning and the end of their first year of participation in the Empowering Women in STEM (EWIS) program (pseudonym). Through the lens of Critical Race Feminism (CRF), we examine quantitative data obtained from the Student Attitudes Toward STEM (S-STEM) Survey instrument and qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that due to the evolution in STEM self-efficacy, programmatic elements and participant experiences should be further understood and replicated as a mechanism for change to rectify the current imbalance of representation in the STEM field.

Authors

• Kimberly Sterin, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Katie Mathew, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Ayana Allen-Handy, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Jacqueline Genovesi, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Dominique A. Thomas, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Kimberly Anne Godfrey, Drexel University
  Presenting Author

• Sanai Bryant-Mcpherson
  Presenting Author

• Vicky Dong
  Presenting Author