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LGBTQ+ in ECE: Culture and (Non)Visibility | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

LGBTQ+ in ECE: Culture and (Non)Visibility


Abstract:

Contribution: This article confirms the continued marginalization of undergraduate LGBTQ+ electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students and describes how they naviga...Show More

Abstract:

Contribution: This article confirms the continued marginalization of undergraduate LGBTQ+ electrical and computer engineering (ECE) students and describes how they navigate their (non)visibility in engineering. Best practices to increase diversity and inclusion are discussed. Background: LGBTQ+ ECE undergraduate students experience a chilly, sometimes hostile climate in engineering. As a result, they experience lower sense of belonging, worse academic outcomes, and greater mental and emotional stress in their daily lives. Research Questions: How are LGBTQ+ ECE undergraduate students’ perceptions of ECE culture, sense of belonging, perceptions of discrimination, and (non)visibility affected by their identities? How do they navigate their (non)visibility in engineering contexts? How do LGBTQ+ ECE undergraduate students perceive and navigate engineering culture and their (non)visibility in engineering spaces, potentially integrating LGBTQ+, race, ethnicity, gender, and other identities into their perceptions? Methodology: A mixed-methods study with a survey and focus groups was conducted at a large southern public university in the United States. Survey participants included 854 undergraduate ECE students, of which 9% were strongly LGBTQ+. Focus group participants included 9 self-selected LGBTQ+ ECE students from the survey sample. Findings: LGBTQ+ ECE undergraduate students face noninclusive environments, marginalizing experiences, and cis-heteronormativity in engineering as a result of their multiple marginalized identities that intersect with their LGBTQ+ identity.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 64, Issue: 4, November 2021)
Page(s): 345 - 352
Date of Publication: 01 March 2021

ISSN Information:

Funding Agency:

Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
Jerry A. Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, in 2020. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
His current research interests include 2-D materials; diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering education; and the intersection of sociology, feminist theory, an...Show More
Jerry A. Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, in 2020. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
His current research interests include 2-D materials; diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering education; and the intersection of sociology, feminist theory, an...View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Max K. Sherard received the B.A. degree in anthropology from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2012. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in STEM education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
His current research interests include spatial thinking, geographic thinking, modeling, place-theories, interaction analysis, and discourse analysis.
Max K. Sherard received the B.A. degree in anthropology from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2012. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in STEM education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
His current research interests include spatial thinking, geographic thinking, modeling, place-theories, interaction analysis, and discourse analysis.View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Christine Julien (Senior Member, IEEE) received the D.Sc. degree in computer science from Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, in 2004.
She is a Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin. She is the Director of the Mobile and Pervasive Computing Group, where her research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and dynamic, unpredicta...Show More
Christine Julien (Senior Member, IEEE) received the D.Sc. degree in computer science from Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, in 2004.
She is a Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin. She is the Director of the Mobile and Pervasive Computing Group, where her research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and dynamic, unpredicta...View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Maura Borrego received the B.S. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA, in 1998, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 2003.
She is the Director of the Center for Engineering Education and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and STEM Education with the University of Texas at Austin...Show More
Maura Borrego received the B.S. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA, in 1998, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 2003.
She is the Director of the Center for Engineering Education and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and STEM Education with the University of Texas at Austin...View more

Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
Jerry A. Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, in 2020. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
His current research interests include 2-D materials; diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering education; and the intersection of sociology, feminist theory, and queer theory and their applications to engineering education.
Jerry A. Yang (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, in 2020. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering with Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
His current research interests include 2-D materials; diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering education; and the intersection of sociology, feminist theory, and queer theory and their applications to engineering education.View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Max K. Sherard received the B.A. degree in anthropology from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2012. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in STEM education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
His current research interests include spatial thinking, geographic thinking, modeling, place-theories, interaction analysis, and discourse analysis.
Max K. Sherard received the B.A. degree in anthropology from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, in 2012. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in STEM education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
His current research interests include spatial thinking, geographic thinking, modeling, place-theories, interaction analysis, and discourse analysis.View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Christine Julien (Senior Member, IEEE) received the D.Sc. degree in computer science from Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, in 2004.
She is a Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin. She is the Director of the Mobile and Pervasive Computing Group, where her research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and dynamic, unpredictable networked environments. Her specific focus is on the development of models, abstractions, tools, and middleware whose goals are to ease the software engineering burden associated with building applications for pervasive and mobile computing environments.
Christine Julien (Senior Member, IEEE) received the D.Sc. degree in computer science from Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA, in 2004.
She is a Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin. She is the Director of the Mobile and Pervasive Computing Group, where her research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and dynamic, unpredictable networked environments. Her specific focus is on the development of models, abstractions, tools, and middleware whose goals are to ease the software engineering burden associated with building applications for pervasive and mobile computing environments.View more
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Maura Borrego received the B.S. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA, in 1998, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 2003.
She is the Director of the Center for Engineering Education and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and STEM Education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Dr. Borrego’s research awards include U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and two outstanding publication awards from the American Educational Research Association for her journal articles. She is a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering. She previously served as the Deputy Editor for the Journal of Engineering Education, a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, on the board of the American Society for Engineering Education, and as an Associate Dean and the Director of interdisciplinary graduate programs. She is a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education.
Maura Borrego received the B.S. degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA, in 1998, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 2003.
She is the Director of the Center for Engineering Education and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and STEM Education with the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Dr. Borrego’s research awards include U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and two outstanding publication awards from the American Educational Research Association for her journal articles. She is a Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering. She previously served as the Deputy Editor for the Journal of Engineering Education, a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, on the board of the American Society for Engineering Education, and as an Associate Dean and the Director of interdisciplinary graduate programs. She is a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education.View more

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