Examining the Experiences of STEM Undergraduate Student Caregivers at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: STEM Student Identities, Experiences, and Outcomes (Table 4)

Abstract

Recent evidence shows that caregivers are often invisible within the academic STEM ecosystem. Additionally, these roles often clash with the norms embedded in academic STEM environments that require STEM students to devote most of their time to their field. Given that women and racially minoritized individuals are more likely to hold caregiving responsibilities, examining the experiences of student caregivers is important for diversifying STEM. Furthermore, it is important to examine the experiences of student caregivers at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) given that these institutions enroll large numbers of racially minoritized students, and students with post-traditional identities. Adopting thematic analysis, we found three themes: defining caregiving roles, tensions in caregiving, and strategies toward balancing for caregivers.

Authors

• Jessica Rivera, University of Texas - San Antonio

• Sanga Kim, University of Houston