Identity, Campus Climate, and Burnout Among Undergraduate Women in STEM Fields

Abstract

Women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and these male‐dominated fields are often described as “chilly” and unwelcoming to women. This study examined the potential moderating effect of chilly climate on woman–scientist identity interference and academic burnout among 363 female undergraduate STEM students. Results indicated that identity interference related to greater emotional exhaustion, greater cynicism, and lower academic efficacy. A chillier climate related to more emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Furthermore, a positive relation was found between woman–scientist interference and cynicism when chilly climate was low or moderate. When interference was high, chilly climate did not have a relation with cynicism. When women experienced many threats (i.e., high chilly climate, high interference), they reached a threshold where additional emotional cost did not matter. Results highlight the importance of improving the campus climate for female scientists, as well as the need to assist female scientists in identity development.

“I’ve Got Your Six”: The Importance of Peer Support to Women Working in Non-Traditional Roles

“…Findings in the present research indicate that women who work in nontraditional roles and perceive their workplace to be a psychologically safe environment are more likely to experience lower levels of job stress, and consequently, lower levels of burnout. This finding was consistent with Jensen and Deemer (2019) in which women scientists working in an unwelcoming and "chilly" environment were more likely to experience burnout and emotional exhaustion. However, as the workplace became more welcoming, burnout levels were reduced.…”

“…Of all of these stressors, however, there are two in particular that are a reaction to the many biases that working women, and especially those in non-traditional roles, experience and that lead to greater burnout and increased work-family conflict. The cumulative effect of stressors experienced by women is compounded when experienced from the perspective of one working in a non-traditional role (Jensen & Deemer, 2019;Veldman et al, 2017). The present research explored how the two key job stressors of low psychological safety and low interpersonal justice influence job stress and contribute to strain in the form of perceived higher levels of burnout and work-family conflict.…”

“…This is particularly salient within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as women currently make up only 16% of the Canadian military (Statistics Canada, 2020). Women in nontraditional roles, and particularly the Canadian military, experience high levels of job stress, which can contribute to adverse outcomes such as increased levels of burnout and work-family conflict (Jensen & Deemer, 2019;Winkel, 2019). In turn, these adverse outcomes may be significant contributors to the high level of attrition of women from non-traditional roles, including the CAF (Blais et al, 2018;Waruszynski et al, 2019).…”

“…Burnout is not uncommon among working women. Women often experience job stress and pressure to prove their competence when compared to male co-workers, and the stress effect can be amplified when women work in non-traditional roles (Baxter et al, 2011;Jensen & Deemer, 2019). When their gender work identity breaks gender norms, as seen when women work in male-dominated roles, this stressor can create conflict within the work team dynamic, increase job stress, and lead to increased burnout among those who do not meet the stereotypical gender role (McCarty, 2007;Shen, 2013;Sonderen et al, 2017;Stasny, 2014;Veldman et al, 2017).…”

What's in a Story? Comparative Analysis of Role Model and Mentor Narratives

“…As a result of these stark differences in the form of absence from the mentor dataset, mentors' descriptions of their worries about making friends or having to drive further to visit their parents may ring hollow to URM students who are struggling to retain their identities within the chilly climate in STEM that permeates across institution types or career stage [7].…”