Women In STEM‐ Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors That Impact Retention and Yield

Abstract

Statistics gleaned from international sources paint a dismal picture of the number of women choosing, then leaving, STEM. The lack of women in the STEM workforce has become of significant concern as studies document the inequity, negative economic impact and loss of research when a disturbingly large number of capable individuals are discouraged or lost. The situation is not unique to the US; the percentage of women in STEM varies globally by field, nation and culture.Yet, in spite of the problems, many women persist and thrive. Understanding factors that impact persistence, resilience and self‐efficacy of successful women in STEM is necessary to determine how to encourage and retain women. Examining factors and experiences, especially those that are subtle or often unrealized, can be determined by utilizing techniques more commonly used by anthropologists and historians. Interviews and oral histories have emerged as excellent methods to identify personal experiences, as the narrative data can be more thoroughly analyzed, provides the opportunity to probe a topic deeply, and can be archived as videos for mentoring. By interviewing and surveying successful STEM women in Europe and the USA, specific factors were observed that may be valuable in retaining women and encouraging girls in STEM.Support or Funding InformationUniversity of Michigan