Date of Award
9-25-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Department
College of Business
First Advisor
Larry Hughes
Committee Members
Jacquelyn Bowser, Julie Bilodeau
Abstract
Despite a plethora of initiatives undertaken by the U.S. government, corporate entities, nongovernmental organizations, and the society at large, the representation of women across various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields remains dismally low (Martinez & Christnacht, 2021; Srivastava, 2019; Swafford & Anderson, 2020; Wright, 2018). This situation is compounded by a high attrition rate with about 50% of women leaving STEM careers by the age of 35 (Maynard, 2021). Numerous studies have highlighted the underrepresentation of women in various STEM disciplines, raising concerns about the missed opportunities for societal progress and the need for comprehensive strategies to address this imbalance (AAUW, 2021; Ceci et al., 2009; Gray, 2021; Martinez & Christnacht, 2021; NSF, 2023; Xie & Shauman, 2003).
This qualitative study explored the multifaceted factors influencing women's decisions to enter and continue in STEM professions, focusing on the complex interplay of challenges and motivators unique to women in these fields. The research was guided by the following overarching research question: What influences women’s choices to enter and persist in STEM careers? The study sample consisted of eight participants (N=8), identified, and recruited through professional networking within the STEM community, and LinkedIn. A thoroughly crafted survey that integrated elements from the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), the Internal-External Locus of Control Short Scale-4 (IE-4), and interview questions comprised the data sources for this research. Results from this study may offer valuable insights for organizations to recruit and retain women in STEM. These insights can help initiate programs in organizations new to employing STEM-educated women and enhance diversity strategies in those already doing so.
Recommended Citation
Afortor, Ella Asare, "Underrepresentation of Women in STEM" (2024). JWU Dissertations & Theses. 5.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/jwu_etd/5