Seeking Congruity Between Goals and Roles

Abstract

Although women have nearly attained equality with men in several formerly male-dominated fields, they remain underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We argue that one important reason for this discrepancy is that STEM careers are perceived as less likely than careers in other fields to fulfill communal goals (e.g., working with or helping other people). Such perceptions might disproportionately affect women's career decisions, because women tend to endorse communal goals more than men. As predicted, we found that STEM careers, relative to other careers, were perceived to impede communal goals. Moreover, communal-goal endorsement negatively predicted interest in STEM careers, even when controlling for past experience and self-efficacy in science and mathematics. Understanding how communal goals influence people's interest in STEM fields thus provides a new perspective on the issue of women's representation in STEM careers.

Sustainability Topics in Physics Education, Science Agency Beliefs and Physics Identity

“…Beyond the control variables, the key predictor variables that addressed questions (2) and (3) in the regression were the sustainability topic items. The outcome variables were science agency (2) and physics identity (3). Throughout this analysis, the maximum allowed chance of Type I error, was fixed at 5%.…”

“…Much of recent science education research has focused on empowering students in their science learning by increasing their level of input as well as crossing boundaries from the world of the classroom to a more relevant social and physical world outside the classroom [3]. We believe that this is an important direction for physics education though it may be more difficult in physics than the other sciences since the physics curriculum is driven by a traditional canon of knowledge.…”

Examining the Relationship between Career Outcome Expectations and Physics Identity

“…Another study found that physical/mathematical sciences are seen as being less able to afford goals that involve other people [9]. Students may think instead of the "lone scientist" or "technology and machinery" [10]. Finally, individuals have been found to align their interests and aspirations to those that coincide with the roles that society has ascribed for them [10].…”

“…Students may think instead of the "lone scientist" or "technology and machinery" [10]. Finally, individuals have been found to align their interests and aspirations to those that coincide with the roles that society has ascribed for them [10]. For example, women maintain high association levels with communal roles (caring for other people) and physics is not perceived as communal such that "even scientifically talented women frequently choose other careers" [10].…”

Challenges and Tradeoffs When Engaging Young Makers With Constructing for Others

“…We focus on two challenges. First, we highlight efforts to leverage values of "helping others" and "giving back to one's community"-values women frequently cite as absent from STEM professions (Diekman, Brown, Johnston, & Clark, 2010;Intel Corporation, 2014;Konrad, Ritchie, Lieb, & Corrigall, 2000)by encouraging a personal relationship between builders and clients. Second, we discuss design choices made to assist workshop participants as they manage transitions between phases of the design process.…”