Has the Needle Moved? CTE and Postsecondary Participation of Women in STEM Fields

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 9:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Inclusion and Equity in Career and Technical Education and Workplace Learning

Abstract

We explored women’s participation in associate degrees in three fields at two points in time: the early 2000s, which experienced significant changes in CTE, and the mid-2010s, after several efforts to increase women’s participation in CTE in STEM fields. Results indicate little progress in participation in Computer and Information Sciences, and Engineering, but higher participation in Health-related fields. Analysis reveals that students who had taken any number of credits in Health-related fields in high school were more likely to enroll in a Health-related major. Our results suggest the need for further practices and efforts to foster women’s participation in STEM careers. Our analysis was conducted using data from the ELS of 2002 and HSLS of 2009.

Authors

• Oscar A. Aliaga, University of South Florida

• Cindy Matti-lynne Townsend, University of South Florida

• Amber D. Dumford, University of South Florida - Tampa