Improving Access to STEM for Girls of Color through Community Programs

Abstract

Background: Our study examines community youth workers’ perceptions, attitudes, and aspirations regarding the development of STEM programming for girls of color gathered through a focus-group discussion embedded in a professional development workshop. Results: Drawing upon these conversations, we learned that they perceived themselves as not belonging in STEM and as focused primarily on community mental health concerns. Although many of the workers commented about being unprepared to plan or offer STEM programming, they suggested that a collective community effort could be a worthwhile approach for increasing STEM programming for girls of color. Results also revealed that the middle school girls of color being served by the community agencies represented in the sample corroborated these results as they too perceived themselves as not belonging in STEM. However, when probed about how they wanted to spend their out-of-school time, many of the girls who asserted lack of interest or belonging in STEM suggested everyday activities that were, indeed, STEM-based. Conclusions: This pattern of results suggests that persuading girls of color to pursue STEM-related activities outside-of-school requires a reframing that considers their existing interests.