Kick, Push, Thrive: Black Girls Mitigating Microaggressions in Informal STEM Education Programs

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 10:50 am
  In Roundtable Session: #UnapologeticBlackness: Community and Family (Table 19)

Abstract

This study investigates the experiences of Black girls in informal STEM education programs, focusing on how they navigate and counteract microaggressions. Despite efforts to address gender and racial disparities in STEM the underrepresentation of Black women in STEM remains a persistent issue. This qualitative study employs critical race feminism and Black feminist thought as theoretical frameworks to explore themes emerging from the data. Using a collective case study design, this research examines the experiences of Black girls in informal STEM programs, shedding light on the impact of microaggressions and the significance of the representation of Black women and girls. The study's findings provide valuable insights to inform future educational improvements and promote equitable representation for Black girls in STEM fields.

Authors

• Deneen S. Dixon-Payne, Towson University

• Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver, Towson University

• Greg Wiggan, University of North Carolina - Charlotte