Understanding the Antecedents of Gender and Ethnic Under-representation in STEM among Children and Adolescents

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Girls and ethnic minoritized youths are still underrepresented in some of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields (National Science Board, 2018). Although much research has been done in this area, more research is needed to understand the antecedents to girls’ and ethnic minority youth’s lower participation and interest in STEM relative to boys and majority-status youth. This symposium brings together 3 international papers and a discussant to address factors underlying youth’s inclusion, motivation and engagement in STEM across schools and informal learning contexts (i.e. science centers). The first study examines how adolescents’ perceptions of their school and STEM environments relate to their perceptions of peers’ abilities and inclusion decisions for STEM activities. This study found adolescents’ perceptions of inclusive school racial and STEM classroom climate related to the inclusion of non-White students and girls in STEM activities. The second study evaluates early adolescent Latino students’ STEM stereotypes and found that stereotypes about their own group were related to their interest, motivation, and belonging in science. Lastly, the third study investigates an intervention showcasing real-life stories of male and female STEM workers in a science center to children. This study demonstrates that showcasing stories of workers in STEM can promote more equitable beliefs that both boys and girls can do well in STEM as well as encourage equitable interest in engineering and technology among children. This symposium will provide novel recommendations for cultivating equitable and inclusive STEM engagements for children and adolescents in both schools and informal learning contexts.

Sub Unit

• Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Chair

• Angelina Joy, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Discussant

• Rachel Robnett, University of Nevada Las Vegas

Individual Presentations

• The Roles of School Racial Climate and STEM Classroom Climate in Adolescents’ Gender and Racial Peer Inclusion and Attribution Decisions - Presenting Author: Angelina Joy, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Channing Jamielle Mathews, University of Virginia - Charlottesville; Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, North Carolina State University; Jerica Knox, North Carolina State University; Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University

• Ethnic Stereotypes Predict Science Motivation in Latino Middle School Students - Presenting Author: Minh Hao Tran, University of Houston; Jennifer Thompson, University of Houston; Taylor Mikhail Alexander, University of Houston; Weiwei Wu, University of Houston; Allison Master, University of Houston; Norma Olvera, University of Houston

• Seeing STEM Stories: Children’s Engineering and Technology interest and ability beliefs - Presenting Author: Fidelia Law, University Of Exeter; Luke McGuire, University Of Exeter; Manuela Barreto, University of Exeter; Adam Rutland, University Of Exeter