My original project idea was to research the engineering education in Mexico to find the reasons why students drop out of the engineering pipeline. After conducting some research, I realized that there was too much information lacking that prevented me from going really in depth into the subject. I then decided to change my topic into why latino women drop out of the engineering pipeline in the U.S. Through my research, I found many parallels between African American women and Latino women who want to pursue a career in engineering. Therefore, my project started heading more into a compare and contrast scenario between both ethnicities. The issue now is narrowing the subject further. There are many aspects I can focus on, such as culture or household portraits of these minorities.
During one of our classes, Dr. Lehr also mentioned the middle school curriculum effects on students pursuing a higher education. I decided to do further research on this project with a stronger focus on women, and it is interesting to note that more girls are enrolled in Pre-Algebra and Algebra courses, which is perfect to continue the mathematics curriculum in high school, but once they reach high school, majority do not take the next level of mathematics, in fact, they retake some of these courses. It is most predominantly found in specific regions where the infrastructure for a rigorous mathematics and science education is extremely lacking. I am taking a closer look at this issue because I think it could lead to the effects of the engineering pipeline.
Coming from a small town where the highest mathematics course was Statistics and the highest science course was conceptual physics, my research has really opened my eyes and made me realize that I am amongst the small percentage of latino women who have not yet leaked out the engineering pipeline. What is most alarming is that even after I graduate and work in industry, there is still a risk of me leaving industry and deviating from engineering. I attended the Google Talk featuring one of the first female engineers at google, Marissa Mayer, and her journey is quite tumultuous, yet she still holds one of the most prestigious positions in the engineering industry, proving that is more than possible and plausible for a woman to hold high positions in industry. Ultimately, I would be thrilled if my research could serve as a stepping stone for educators to fortify their curriculum in hopes to increase the number of latino women in engineering.
I like how you have applied your research project to your own experiences. It really helps put things in perspective.
ReplyDeleteSince you have now been comparing and contrasting Latino and African American women and are looking for a more specific focus. . . I wonder if you will be asking the same question for each ethnicity. For instance: what elementary education did each ethnicity have? Are there role models for the women?
Have you come up with a thesis for why you think these women drop out of the engineering pipeline?
It is very interesting that you found that in “specific regions where the infrastructure for a rigorous mathematics and science education is extremely lacking” . . . is where girls tend to retake math courses. This then seems to point to institutional frameworks that are keeping women out. For even if schools do have strong departments and not many women are continuing engineering education, then there really is minimal leverage for all women, especially women of color.
Do you think changing one aspect in elementary school, or middle school, can significantly alter the representation of Latino and African American women in STEM fields?