Small Fish in Big Ponds: Female Doctoral STEM Students' Conference Experiences and Science Identity Development

• In Event: Interrogating Access to STEM Among Underrepresented Students

Abstract

A gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields persists despite the growing acknowledgment of the structural barriers sustaining it. One distinct and understudied time in women’s STEM careers is their doctorate. This study examines female doctoral students’ experiences at academic conferences which often present the first encounter with the wider academic community. A gender and science identity lens guided our study and analysis. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 23 female doctoral students in STEM fields. Our findings showed that they experienced conferences as gendered spaces impacting the development of their science identity in adverse ways. This study illustrates a continued need to combat gender inequities in STEM fields and re-imagine conferences to be more inclusive.

Authors

• Joanna R. Smith, University of Auckland

• Frauke Meyer, The University of Auckland

• Liuning Yang, University of Auckland