Do I Belong?: Gender, Peer Groups, and STEM Achievement

Authors

  • Campbell Leaper University of California, Santa Cruz

Keywords:

Gender, social identity, peer relations, belonging, academic achievement, occupational aspirations, sciences, technology, engineers, mathematics.

Abstract

Women’s underrepresentation in many STEM fields is due to a combination of individual and sociocultural factors. Among these, the peer group is one potentially powerful force reviewed in this article. First, I describe key processes associated with group belonging. The social identities associated with group belonging can shape individuals’ task and interpersonal values. Second, I consider how the values reinforced in many girls’ and women’s peer groups may conflict with their perceptions of STEM. In addition, girls and women may experience rejection and hostility from their male peers regarding STEM achievement. Conversely, when important peer groups value and support STEM, they may validate girls’ and women’s sense of belongingness in STEM fields. Next, I highlight some strategies for reducing peer sexism and foster STEM belonging. Finally, I close with some recommendations for future research.

Author Biography

  • Campbell Leaper, University of California, Santa Cruz
    Professor and Chair of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz. Co-Chair and Organizer, Gender Development Research Conference.
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Published

08-06-2015

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Special Issue: Gendered Motivation and Choice in STEM

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How to Cite

Do I Belong?: Gender, Peer Groups, and STEM Achievement. (2015). International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology, 7(2), 166-179. https://genderandset.open.ac.uk/index.php/genderandset/article/view/405