Journal article
Stepping Out and Stepping Up: Narratives of Women of Color in an Urban STEM OST Program
Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, Vol.17, pp.58-88
2023
Abstract
The science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields have a well-documented racialized and gendered participation gap between males, particularly white males, and women of color (WOC). Through a Critical Race Feminist lens, this qualitative research study uses life-story narrative analysis to understand the experiences of eleven WOC who participated in an urban STEM-focused out-of-school time (OST) program. Data analysis showed students story their experiences around three overarching themes: (1) Experiencing New Opportunities; (2) Cultivating Supportive Relationships; and (3) Expanding STEM Career Possibilities. Findings indicate that an urban STEM-focused OST program can activate an ecosystem of opportunities and support which can empower WOC to step out of their socialized comfort zones and step up to more advanced academic and career paths. Participant narratives demonstrate how their experiences in a particular urban STEM OST program opened doors and encouraged pathways otherwise historically made inaccessible to WOC in STEM fields.
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Details
- Title
- Stepping Out and Stepping Up: Narratives of Women of Color in an Urban STEM OST Program
- Creators
- Kimberly SterinKatie MathewAgue Mae ManongsongAyana Allen-HandyJacqueline GenovesiKimberly GodfreyDominique ThomasJanai A. KeitaIan MarcusNancy PeterHilary BleckerSharon Walker
- Publication Details
- Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, Vol.17, pp.58-88
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Engineering; School of Education; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Identifiers
- 991021969999404721