Hidden Figures No More: Factors That Contribute to Stem
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HIDDEN FIGURES NO MORE: FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STEM GRADUATE DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN by ANSLEY ALICIA BOOKER A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY IN THE EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF TIFT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT MERCER UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Atlanta, GA 2018 ©2018 ANSLEY ALICIA BOOKER All Rights Reserved HIDDEN FIGURES NO MORE: FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STEM GRADUATE DEGREE ATTAINMENT IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN by ANSLEY ALICIA BOOKER Approved: Olivia Boggs, Ed.D. Date Dissertation Committee Chair Carol A. Isaac, Ph.D. Date Dissertation Committee Member Sabrina Walthall, Ph.D. Date Dissertation Committee Member Jane West, Ed.D. Date Director of Doctoral Studies, Tift College of Education J. Kevin Jenkins, Ed.D. Date Chair, Educational Leadership Program Keith E. Howard, Ph.D. Date Interim Director of Graduate Studies DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation first and foremost to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him, this would not have been possible. His grace and mercy gave me the ability to persist through this journey and I am forever indebted. To Ms. Shabria Lowe, my sorority sister, who received her physics degree from Georgia Southern University in 2008, post-humorously. My parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, brothers, family, and friends for your tireless commitment to my academic, emotional, and spiritual success. I would also like to dedicate this to the women who have endured hardships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. To Margret Shutterly your book, Hidden Figures, is an inspiration to this nation and the world. I also dedicate my research to all the Hidden Figures around the world, especially Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. We are no longer Hidden Figures. Lastly, to my ancestors, I am the hope and the dream of the slave. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank God, who provided the opportunity and fortitude to complete my dissertation. I would like to thank my immediate family for their love, support, prayers, feedback, and encouraging words along the way. To my mother, Linda Booker, thank you for your unconditional love and support through every academic endeavor. To my late father, Gary Booker, thank you for all the questions about my research throughout the years, they were valuable learning tools and really prepared me for my defense. To my two younger brothers Garan and Jameson, I will continue to be the Michael to your Lebron and Kyrie. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for Dr. Olivia Boggs! You are the absolute best. I thank you for your encouraging words, for believing in me, and for always putting a smile on my face. We have a bond that goes far beyond Mercer University. Without you, this journey would not be possible. I am eternally grateful for your sacrifice and allowing me to serve as one of your doctoral candidates. You have truly been a beacon of hope for me since our first encounter in 2014. Thank you for allowing me to express myself and for believing in not only me but also my classmates. You are truly a champion of higher education. I would also like to thank Dr. Carol Iaasc. Your constructive feedback, high expectations, and attention to detail are greatly appreciated and have been instrumental throughout this journey. I will forever cherish all your encouragement and web v conference calls. To Dr. Sabrina Walthall, thank you for serving on my committee. I greatly appreciate your expertise and wealth of knowledge. Your commitment to my professional success and Real Impact is my reason for striving for STEM equality. You are more than a mentor to me. I would also like to acknowledge all my Cohort 9 members who have encouraged me throughout this journey, especially Dr. Holly Brookins, Christian Wells, and Peter Bryant. My friendship with each of you is life-long and precious. Your encouragement, support, and professional advice were motivational tools throughout this process. I would like to thank my church family, friends, and wolf pack for their continued support, prayers, and housing through this process. I could not have done it without you. To my TRIO work family, thank you for never giving up on me. To the SAEOPP/ GASPP/ TRIO professional scholarships for helping to financially support my research. Thank you to the Golden Key International Honour Society for the research travel grant to present in beautiful South Africa. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................. 5 Background of the Problem .............................................................................. 7 Gender-Based Poverty .......................................................................... 8 Academic Unpreparedness of Minorities.............................................. 9 Gender Gap in STEM Fields............................................................... 10 Underrepresented Minorities .............................................................. 11 Recruitment and Retention Strategies ............................................................. 13 Research Questions ......................................................................................... 15 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................... 15 Tinto's (1993) Theory of Doctoral Student Persistence ...................... 15 Social Cognitive Career Theory.......................................................... 16 Significance of the Study ................................................................................ 18 Procedures ....................................................................................................... 18 Limitations and Delimitations ......................................................................... 20 Definitions of Terms ....................................................................................... 21 Summary ......................................................................................................... 21 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 23 Hidden Figures ................................................................................................ 23 Historical Context (Case Law and Legislation Review)................................. 27 Interest Convergence .......................................................................... 29 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) CHAPTER Page Affirmative Action .............................................................................. 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities ................................................. 35 STEM Education Retention Decline ............................................................... 36 STEM Career Reform ..................................................................................... 40 Negative Outcomes ......................................................................................... 43 Lower Income Expectancy ................................................................. 43 Gender Pay Gap .................................................................................. 44 Bias ..................................................................................................... 46 “Chilly” STEM Environment and Glass Obstacle Course ................. 49 Sex-Based Harassment........................................................................ 50 Social Isolations .................................................................................. 51 Stereotypes .......................................................................................... 52 Violations of Affirmative Action and Title IX Policies ...................... 53 Barriers to STEM Success .............................................................................. 55 Kindergarten-12 ........................................................................................ 55 Postsecondary ........................................................................................... 56 Graduate and Career ................................................................................. 57 Factors that Decrease STEM Persistence ....................................................... 59 Lack of Science Identity ..................................................................... 60 STEM Catalysts .................................................................................. 60 Self-Efficacy and Science Identity ...................................................... 64 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................