ERIC Number: EJ1474254
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0926-7220
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1901
Available Date: 2024-05-15
A Systematic Review Using Feminist Perspectives on the Factors Affecting Girls' Participation in STEM Subjects
Msafiri Mgambi Msambwa1; Kangwa Daniel1; Cai Lianyu1; Fute Antony2
Science & Education, v34 n3 p1619-1650 2025
Although women are increasing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), men still dominate these fields at the highest levels. This systematic review examined 165 studies published between 2013 and 2023 on the factors affecting girls' participation in STEM subjects. The feminist's intersectionality and the social cognitive theories were used to identify and thematically categorize the factors as personal, environmental, and behavioral. Furthermore, the intersectionality theory explains how to mitigate them by advocating for systems that promote non-discrimination between men and women without igniting their differences or similarities or excluding men by only furthering women's agendas. Findings indicate that only 17 studies attributed girls' low participation in STEM subjects to personal factors (interest, poor self-concept, and negative attitudes), 100 studies to environmental factors (lack of collaboration, stereotypes, and role modelling), and 48 studies to behavioral factors (low motivation, low self-efficacy, and lack of career plans). Among the actions and strategies proposed to mitigate the negative effects of these factors include personal (hands-on STEM exposure, improve self-confidence and self-efficacy), environmental (role modelling, enabling STEM learning environment, and suitable STEM equipment), and behavioral (interest, motivation, and guidance). The results provide policymakers, educators, and practitioners with valuable insights on creating an enabling STEM learning environment that supports more girls in STEM subjects, further contributes to the global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals especially on quality education and gender equality, and recommends further research on how education systems can create supportive STEM learning environments using the feminist's perspectives.
Descriptors: Feminism, Females, Student Participation, STEM Education, Intersectionality, Social Cognition, Attribution Theory, Student Interests, Self Concept, Negative Attitudes, Environmental Influences, Cooperation, Stereotypes, Role Models, Student Motivation, Self Efficacy, Career Planning, Hands on Science, Educational Environment, Guidance, Sex Fairness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Zhejiang Normal University, Institute of International and Comparative Education, College of Teacher Education, Jinhua City, People’s Republic of China; 2Yulin University, Foreign Language Department, Yulin City, People’s Republic of China