Breaking the Code: Examining STEM Violence Against Black Girls

• In Event: I Love You, Black Girl: An Exploration of Strengths-Based Supports Informed by Critical Theories

Abstract

This study highlights "STEM violence" and its impact on students of color in STEM fields. STEM violence encompasses minority underrepresentation, cultural exclusion, limited courses, and inaccessible career paths. Considering STEM's pivotal role as a catalyst for social mobility, the imperative to evaluate and mediate disparities in equitable STEM instruction becomes paramount, necessitating a comprehensive reevaluation of the “code”. This study utilizes critical race structuralism (CRS) to explore diversity in informal STEM programs, particularly for Black girls. There is a need to address the disparities in STEM and engage Black girls through effective pedagogical practices. Complementary to this year’s conference theme, educators must dismantle racial injustices in STEM to construct equitable educational opportunities for marginalized students.

Authors

• Deneen S. Dixon-Payne, Towson University

• Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver, Towson University

• Tamera D. Moore, Charleston Southern University

• Greg Wiggan, University of North Carolina - Charlotte