Exploring Agency of Women of Color in Globalized STEM Disciplines Through Comparative Approach

• In Event: Friday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Where Do We Go From Here? The Sociocultural Factors and Implications of STEM (Table 34)

Abstract

Culturally relevant approaches to illuminate the agency of women of color (WoC) have enabled conceptualizing why and how racially minoritized women persist in the oppressive STEM disciplines and demands. However, the agency of WoC in pursuing STEM majors can be better understood and conceptualized by incorporating globalization and the role of STEM disciplines in the process of globalization. By using a comparative case study approach incorporating horizontal, vertical, and transversal analysis of the issue (Bartlett & Vavrus, 2017), this study suggests an alternative conceptualization of the agency of WoC in STEM majors through a historical examination of underrepresentation and agency of WoC in STEM, exploring their various cultural values and skills based on the culturally relevant lens and glonacal heuristics.

Author

• Seonmi Jin, Indiana University