This case study examined the opportunities for self-directed learning and the resulting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outcomes among participants in a STEM Girls program. The research questions guiding this analysis are as follows: (a) In what ways does the STEM Girls class provide participants with opportunities for…

The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the role of mentoring on preventing attrition of females in STEM pathways. This particular study examined mentoring sampled women currently in cybersecurity and engineering professions, though the study and subsequent results could be easily applied to other professions. The…

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate an online mental health literacy training program for college female mentors. Design/methodology/approach: Undergraduate female participants (n = 10) completed in asynchronous mental health literacy training. Participants completed the Heads Up Checkup (HCU) and mental health literacy scale…

In the United States, Latinas are underrepresented in obtaining PhDs that lead to high level professional careers and academia. This may be due, in part, to patriarchal academic institutions and approaches that have historically devalued the cultural experiences and identities of marginalized populations, including Latinas in higher education.…

The long-term impacts of adolescent girls' outdoor learning are rarely represented in the outdoor literature. This research explored the stories of 11 young women reflecting on an immersive month of school outdoor learning, in a remote part of New Zealand. These young women were recruited following a larger survey of school alumni. During…

Even though there has been a narrowing of the gender gap in STEM, there is still a pronounced gap in the physical sciences, engineering, and computer science. Females who persist in these fields have a strong STEM identity, including developing specific STEM interests. Females can develop STEM identity through long-term, active involvement in…

This study explores the realm of authentic leadership theory to examine how female teenagers can enhance relational authenticity and develop authentic leadership skills through a specialized program. Employing multigroup Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we assess the impact of this leadership intervention on female teenagers, comparing pre- and…

Objective: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of Making Friends with Yourself (MFY): A Mindful Self-Compassion Program for Teens and Young Adults with a sample of college students. A secondary objective was to explore changes in psychosocial outcomes. Participants: Twenty-five students (23 females; mean age 20.35 years) enrolled in the…

Middle school Black girls in the Chicagoland area encounter challenges when engaging in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) learning and developing individual STEM identities. Black girls with good grades in STEM courses are reluctant to pursue STEM careers because of the negative stereotypes they face in school (King & Pringle,…

Objective: Internalized weight bias is experienced by young women across the weight spectrum and contributes to the development of eating disorders. Interventions have demonstrated preliminary success in reducing weight self-stigma and disordered eating, but findings have only applied to individuals with overweight and obesity and little is known…

Black women undergraduates are represented in low numbers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Research studies have lacked data outlining the compounding effects of the intersectional, gendered, and racialized experiences they often face in their programs of study. Participation in kinship networks may be a critical…

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a peer-led single-session intervention targeting the sociocultural pressures of body image. Participants: New members of 13 sororities at one university. Methods: Participants were randomized by sorority into the intervention (n = 207) or wait list control (n = 264). Online surveys were administered at…

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…

Out-of-school mathematics programs (OSMPs) can be a great benefit for students in STEM. However, little is known about how students perceive the support provided to them by such programs, especially with respect to students of color. In this paper, we draw upon a framework of institutional resource types (Nasir & Cooks, 2009) and performed a…

Drawing on a social identity framework of mathematical development, the authors present a model, Improving Girls' Math Identity (IGMI), designed to address two key "leaks" in the female STEM pipeline: undergraduate and middle school. IGMI involves a supportive professional development network for undergraduate women preparing to…