2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) industry has experienced significant growth over the past few decades, yet the representation of women in these fields remains disproportionately low. This study explores transformative educational strategies through interviews and surveys with 35 women currently or previously employed in STEM industries. Key areas examined include educational backgrounds, career pathways, professional development, interpersonal dynamics, and valued workplace characteristics.

Findings highlight that women in STEM fields continue to face significant challenges, including gender bias, social isolation, limited career advancement opportunities, insufficient mentoring, and difficulties balancing work and life responsibilities. Despite progress in K-12 STEM education, 65% of participants first considered STEM careers during higher education, often after age 19. Most learned about STEM careers primarily through online resources such as virtual courses, highlighting digital platforms as key for attracting and supporting women's career development, while college career services, despite their pivotal role in career preparation, had minimal impact on their career readiness. Notably, 70% of women reported either personally experiencing or witnessing gender bias and related challenges, which not only affect their current work performance but also influence their sustained long-term engagement in STEM fields. Caregiving responsibilities further restrict women's career choices and long-term professional growth. Encouragingly, women have demonstrated a strong awareness of emerging technologies, with each individual, on average, having explored over six new technologies.

This study combines survey data and in-depth interviews to capture the experiences and narratives of women in STEM, providing insights into the systemic factors contributing to their underrepresentation along with the emerging and changing trends in the field. It offers evidence-based recommendations for educators and educational institutions, emphasizing the necessity of targeted interventions such as K-12 STEM career education, mentorship programs, enhanced college career services, harassment awareness and support, inclusive learning environments, and policy reforms to promote gender equity. By informing academic discussions on STEM diversity, this study guides future research and institutional strategies aimed at attracting more women to STEM fields, improving their career entry and advancement, and fostering a more inclusive professional pipeline.