Female students in the STEM disciplines: an investigation of “atypical” academic routes

Abstract

This essay investigates the cultural and educational influences which effectively contribute to distancing female students from scientific culture such that they are discouraged from pursuing studies in the “STEM” disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The second half of the paper reports the results of research conducted through narrative interviews of a sample of female university students who made the unconventional decision to enroll in degree programs in which they are a minority (engineering, computer science, etc.). Analyzing the ways in which these “divergent” choices develop and uncovering ideas about science that young women internalize can be useful tools for opening avenues that combat gender stereotypes in schools and universities.

Keywords

• educational choices
• gender stereotypes
• gender segregation in education
• women and science
• qualitative research