New Perspectives in Science Education

Historically women striving for leadership roles have faced many barriers.  This is even more true for women who are pursuing careers in STEM, which refers to the academic and professional fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields is a problem that has persisted over the past three decades and is most severe at the highest levels of the STEM career path (Gayles, 2011). This mixed methods research aims to understand the lived K-12 experience of women leaders who are now in STEM careers. The information gathered will assist women who want to become successful leaders in STEM in the future. Women’s leadership barriers are stereotypes, discrimination, caregiving responsibilities, pipeline issues, and lack of mentorship (Evans, 2009; Hill et al., 2016). Women in STEM leadership positions from various industries will be interviewed for the study. From the data gathered we will look at what opportunities, barriers, and complexities women experienced in the K-12 lived experience.  The researchers’ findings will create a model for future women leaders to use and build on the existing literature analyzing women leaders in STEM. 

Keywords: STEM, women leaders, K-12, education

References:

1 Gayles, J. G. (2011). Attracting and retaining women in stem (Ser. New directions for institutional research, no. 152). Jossey-Bass.

2 Hill, C., Miller, K., Benson, K., & Handley, G. (2016). Barriers and bias: The status of women in leadership. American Association of University Women. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED585546

3 Evans, L. A. (2009). Success strategies of high achieving women: A qualitative phenomenological investigation (Publication No. 3387040) [Doctoral Dissertation, Pepperdine University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. https://lib.pepperdine.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/success-strategies-high-achieving-women/docview/305180739/se-2?accountid=13159