“You’re Here for a Reason”: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Black Undergraduate Women in STEM During COVID-19

• In Event: Fostering Students' Development and Learning During Middle School, College, and Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

This embedded mixed-method study took a developmental and intersectional lens to examine the experiences of Black undergraduate women majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In-depth interviews (n = 13) and surveys (n = 34) were used to collect data on the academic, social, and emotional experiences of Black women in STEM at a Historically White University (HWU) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative analyses revealed three themes of: (a) race-related stressors, (b) race-related strengths, and (c) COVID-19-related isolation and mental health experiences. Results of quantitative analysis substantiated these themes, highlighting the negative effects of racial discrimination and the salience of students’ perceptions of the school climate.

Authors

• Charlotte A. Agger, Indiana University

• Shuhan Yuan, Indiana University

• Naomi Satterfield, Indiana University

• Sylvie Morgan, Indiana University

• Hsien-Chang Lin, Indiana University

• Angela Chow, Indiana University