Retaining Women of Color in STEM: A Participatory Action Research Approach Analyzing Participant Narratives

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Trust, Mentorship, and Belonging for Minoritized and Underserved Students in STEM (Table 33)

Abstract

Within recent years, there has been an increase of programs designed to increase Women of Color (WoC) who participate in STEM programs. Data has shown however, that such interventions have so far only raised participation of women broadly in isolated STEM fields. One contributing factor to the lack of long-term STEM retention could be the absence of voices of the WoC about their needs. This study utilizes a participatory action research (PAR) approach where five WoC undergraduate STEM majors share vignettes of their experiences over the course of a week, documenting how their programs’ structure impacted their wellness, STEM identity, and views on long term persistence. Findings share various strategies that STEM WoC employ to support their mental wellbeing.

Authors

• Jasmyne Yeldell, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Dionne Cross Francis, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Pavneet Kaur Bharaj, California State University - Long Beach

• Kerrie G. Wilkins-Yel, University of Massachusetts - Boston