Skip to main content
Top
Published in:

19-11-2022 | Original Paper

Expanding Theories of Sociopolitical Development: Centering the Intersectional Experiences of Girls of Color in an Informal STEM Program

Authors: Patricia Garcia, Germán A. Cadenas, Kimberly A. Scott

Published in: TechTrends | Issue 3/2023

Login to get access

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

In this study, we bring the concepts of sociopolitical development and intersectionality into conversation to examine how girls of color can develop a sense of agency that is grounded in an understanding of how race and gender impact their desired personal and STEM academic trajectories. Using a three-stage intersectional sociopolitical development framework, we analyzed 33 interviews with participants of CompuGirls, a technology program for girls of color. Our findings show that integrating STEM education, intersectional identity exploration, and sociopolitical critique can 1) positively influence girls’ perceived ability to change their STEM educational conditions; and 2) result in a greater understanding of how the intersections of race and gender have influenced their desired personal and academic trajectories.
Literature
go back to reference Barnes, R. J. D. (2015). Raising the Race: Black Career Women Redefine Marriage, Motherhood, and Community. Rutgers University Press. Barnes, R. J. D. (2015). Raising the Race: Black Career Women Redefine Marriage, Motherhood, and Community. Rutgers University Press.
go back to reference Cadenas, G. A., Cantú, E. A., Spence, T., & Ruth, A. (2018). Integrating critical consciousness and technology in entrepreneurship career development with diverse community college students. Journal of Career Development, 0894845318793968. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845318793968 Cadenas, G. A., Cantú, E. A., Spence, T., & Ruth, A. (2018). Integrating critical consciousness and technology in entrepreneurship career development with diverse community college students. Journal of Career Development, 0894845318793968. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1177/​0894845318793968​
go back to reference Collins, P.H. (1990). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Unwin Hyman. Collins, P.H. (1990). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Unwin Hyman.
go back to reference Collins, P.H. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment (2nd ed). Routledge. Collins, P.H. (2000). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment (2nd ed). Routledge.
go back to reference Collins, P. H., & Bilge, S. (2016). Intersectionality. Wiley. Collins, P. H., & Bilge, S. (2016). Intersectionality. Wiley.
go back to reference Diemer, M. A., & Hsieh, C. (2008). Sociopolitical development and vocational expectations among lower socioeconomic status adolescents of color. The Career Development Quarterly; Alexandria, 56(3), 257–267.CrossRef Diemer, M. A., & Hsieh, C. (2008). Sociopolitical development and vocational expectations among lower socioeconomic status adolescents of color. The Career Development Quarterly; Alexandria, 56(3), 257–267.CrossRef
go back to reference Flick, U., von Kardoff, E., & Steinke, I. (2004). A Companion to Qualitative Research. SAGE. Flick, U., von Kardoff, E., & Steinke, I. (2004). A Companion to Qualitative Research. SAGE.
go back to reference Hunter, M. L. (2002). “If you’re light you’re alright”: Light skin color as social capital for women of color. Gender & Society, 16(2), 175–193. Hunter, M. L. (2002). “If you’re light you’re alright”: Light skin color as social capital for women of color. Gender & Society, 16(2), 175–193.
go back to reference Jackson-High, V. (2018). Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions of Instructional Techniques and Strategies to Promote African American Female Students as Science Learners. ProQuest LLC. Jackson-High, V. (2018). Elementary School Teachers’ Perceptions of Instructional Techniques and Strategies to Promote African American Female Students as Science Learners. ProQuest LLC.
go back to reference Kang, H., Calabrese Barton, A., Tan, E., Simpkins, S. D., Rhee, H., & Turner, C. (2019). How do middle school girls of color develop STEM identities? Middle school girls’ participation in science activities and identification with STEM careers. Science Education, 103(2), 418–439. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.21492CrossRef Kang, H., Calabrese Barton, A., Tan, E., Simpkins, S. D., Rhee, H., & Turner, C. (2019). How do middle school girls of color develop STEM identities? Middle school girls’ participation in science activities and identification with STEM careers. Science Education, 103(2), 418–439. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​sce.​21492CrossRef
go back to reference Kozan, S., Blustein, D. L., Barnett, M., Wong, C., Connors-Kellgren, A., Haley, J., Patchen, A., Olle, C., Diemer, M. A., Floyd, A., Tan, R. P. B., & Wan, D. (2017). Awakening, efficacy, and action: A qualitative inquiry of a social justice-infused, science education program: awakening, efficacy, and action. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 17(1), 205–234. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12136CrossRef Kozan, S., Blustein, D. L., Barnett, M., Wong, C., Connors-Kellgren, A., Haley, J., Patchen, A., Olle, C., Diemer, M. A., Floyd, A., Tan, R. P. B., & Wan, D. (2017). Awakening, efficacy, and action: A qualitative inquiry of a social justice-infused, science education program: awakening, efficacy, and action. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 17(1), 205–234. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​asap.​12136CrossRef
go back to reference Sánchez Carmen, S. A., Domínguez, M., Greene, A. C., Mendoza, E., Fine, M., Neville, H. A., & Gutiérrez, K. D. (2015). Revisiting the collective in critical consciousness: Diverse sociopolitical wisdoms and ontological healing in sociopolitical development. The Urban Review, 47(5), 824–846. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11256-015-0338-5CrossRef Sánchez Carmen, S. A., Domínguez, M., Greene, A. C., Mendoza, E., Fine, M., Neville, H. A., & Gutiérrez, K. D. (2015). Revisiting the collective in critical consciousness: Diverse sociopolitical wisdoms and ontological healing in sociopolitical development. The Urban Review, 47(5), 824–846. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s11256-015-0338-5CrossRef
go back to reference Scott, K. A., & Garcia, P. (2017). Techno-social change agents: Fostering activist dispositions among girls of color. Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, 15(1), 65–85.CrossRef Scott, K. A., & Garcia, P. (2017). Techno-social change agents: Fostering activist dispositions among girls of color. Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, 15(1), 65–85.CrossRef
go back to reference Thomas, J. O., Joseph, N., Williams, A., Crum, C., & Burge, J. (2018). Speaking Truth to Power: Exploring the Intersectional Experiences of Black Women in Computing. 2018 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/RESPECT.2018.8491718 Thomas, J. O., Joseph, N., Williams, A., Crum, C., & Burge, J. (2018). Speaking Truth to Power: Exploring the Intersectional Experiences of Black Women in Computing. 2018 Research on Equity and Sustained Participation in Engineering, Computing, and Technology (RESPECT), 1–8. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1109/​RESPECT.​2018.​8491718
go back to reference Young, J., Ortiz, N., & Young, J. (2017). STEMulating interest: A meta-analysis of the effects of out-of-school time on student STEM interest. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 5(1), 62–74.CrossRef Young, J., Ortiz, N., & Young, J. (2017). STEMulating interest: A meta-analysis of the effects of out-of-school time on student STEM interest. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology, 5(1), 62–74.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Expanding Theories of Sociopolitical Development: Centering the Intersectional Experiences of Girls of Color in an Informal STEM Program
Authors
Patricia Garcia
Germán A. Cadenas
Kimberly A. Scott
Publication date
19-11-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
TechTrends / Issue 3/2023
Print ISSN: 8756-3894
Electronic ISSN: 1559-7075
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00812-y

Premium Partner