Exploring the Adolescent Experiences of Latinas in STEM and How It Relates to Retention

Abstract

Women are underrepresented in the STEM workforce. This is due to microaggressions, gender biases, preconceived assumptions about their abilities, a lack of mentorship, and limited opportunities for advancement. While women are underrepresented as a whole, the deficit is even larger when it comes to Latinas, who only make up a fraction of the already low numbers of females in the STEM workforce. Girls and boys perform the same in math and science during adolescence and show equal interest in those two subjects, yet girls tend to choose alternative career paths and lose interest in these subjects as they get older. This study explored the experiences of Latinas, who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate STEM college. This study measured feelings of belonging and experiences in school that impacted participants’ continuing education in STEM. The goal of the study was to analyze the participants’ experiences inside and outside of school, to determine how those experiences impacted their retention in STEM. The results showed that Latinas tremendously benefit from mentorship and out-of-school programs that give them real world, hands-on experiences.