Critical qualitative research as a means to advocate for Latinas in STEM

Abstract

The current administration of the United States has brought to the forefront the hostile sociopolitical climate found within this diverse country as Americans continue to grapple with the intentional, residual effects of the systemic maintenance of oppression. The purpose of this study is to understand the perceptions of climate in the persistence of Latinas pursuing an undergraduate engineering degree. More specifically, this empirical study utilized critical consciousness to frame the counternarratives of how 11 Latinas experience their double bind status in engineering. The subsequent three themes emerged from data analysis: (1) desiring to relate to minoritized populations/women; (2) experiencing sexism on a pervasive level; and (3) discrediting their engineering competency. The authors then offer policy recommendations based on the findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Latinas
• engineering
• critical consciousness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rosa M. Banda

Rosa M. Banda, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA.

Alonzo M. Flowers

Alonzo M. Flowers, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Policy, Organization, and Leadership, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.