Project R-14361

An intersectional approach to women in STEM (Research)

A recent report shows how women's participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) still does not exceed 40% in the Western world (The Institute of Statistics of the United Nations, 2019). Statistics from the United States of America show how female workers, for example, represent only 25% of computer science and only 15% of engineers (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). Within the STEM literature, the concept of the "Leaky Pipeline" is cited to indicate a gradual loss of female talent within the industry. Throughout the educational trajectory and different career phases, so-called leaks, also called "women filters," can occur that cause women to systematically disappear from the STEM sector in larger numbers. Explanations for these leaks may include: negative stereotypical ideas that limit the likelihood of recruitment and promotion, lower social capital of women (e.g., due to a lack of support networks), a lack of inclusion perpetuated by for instance a hostile organizational culture where sexually transgressive behavior and microaggressions are tolerated. In this PhD thesis, qualitative research methods are used to further delve out barriers and solutions in the sector, through an intersectionality lens.

01 October 2023 - 30 September 2027