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CC BY-SA V4.0, Open Access
Dissertation
"THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM"—CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH: NARRATIVES OF FEMALE STUDENTS OF COLOR
Washington State University
Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
12/2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007229
Abstract
The underrepresentation of female students of color in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) pathways remains a significant challenge within the U.S.
education system, particularly in preparatory Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. This narrative inquiry explores the experiences of female students of color in STEM-focused CTE programs in several Washington State skill centers. By examining the educational trajectories and personal narratives of these women, this study seeks to uncover the challenges, supports, and institutional barriers they faced throughout their K-12 education and into their postsecondary endeavors.
Through a series of semi-structured interviews, the five participants shared their stories, offering insights into how cultural expectations, family supports, mentorship, and barriers influenced their pursuit of their individual STEM college and career progression. Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework provided the theoretical lens for this analysis, emphasizing the forms of capital these women leveraged to navigate predominantly White and male-dominated STEM fields.
Findings reveal that aspirational and familial capital was crucial in participants' early interest in STEM, while navigational and resistant capital helped them overcome challenges such as gender bias, racial isolation, feelings of imposter syndrome, and financial barriers. Despite these obstacles, four out of five participants persisted in their STEM pathways, with all transitioning to higher education institutions or STEM-related careers.
This study contributes to the literature on educational equity in CTE and skill centers by highlighting the systems changes needed to support the retention and success of female students of color to access STEM programs. Recommendations include enhancing mentorship opportunities, addressing implicit bias in educational settings, and fostering more inclusive learning environments in STEM fields. Ultimately, this research underscores the ongoing importance of culturally responsive approaches to closing the participation gaps for females and minorities in secondary STEM education plus post-secondary college and careers.
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Details
- Title
- "THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM"—CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH
- Creators
- Kari Lynn Schuh
- Contributors
- Kristin Shawn Huggins (Chair)Katherine Rodela (Committee Member)Kristin Lesseig (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Educational Leadership, Sport Studies, and Educational/Counseling Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 205
- Identifiers
- 99901195538201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation