The marginalization of women in engineering is a persistent problem. The overall goal of our collaborative project was to promote interest and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), particularly for high school girls. We took an action research approach with a local high school science teacher to develop,…

Research has shown that students' identity development is important for students' retention in engineering (Madsen, & Holmegaard, 2010), but for women the cultural representations of the field can create a disconnect that limits their potential identities with engineering (Carlone & Johnson, 2007; Faulkner 2006; 2007; Goldman, 2012; Malone…

Despite the fact that approximately half of high school physics students are female, only 21% of physics bachelor's degrees are awarded to women. In a previous study, drawn from a national survey of college students in introductory English courses, five factors commonly proposed to positively impact female students' choice of a physical science…

A study exploring how women interpret adventure interviewed 42 women aged 30-86 from 6 countries who had participated in adventure recreation. Adventure for these women incorporated risk and physical challenge, but also a sense of newness, learning, personal development, and creativity. Implications for the adventure industry are discussed.…

Pre- and post-treatment measures of sex role orientation, assertiveness, and attainment of individual goals were obtained for 51 female participants. The one-year follow-up showed that the group subjected to principles of assertiveness training and consciousness raising were superior to the control group in androgyny, masculinity, and…

Argues that the physical and emotional experience of performing on stage is an opportunity for young female performers to gain knowledge about their gender identities. Maintains that physical learning of gendered "acts" may be part of the crisis many young women encounter in adolescence and that such "acts" can take place on…

Interviews with 253 women in process of divorce suggest women who hold nontraditional sex role attitudes or whose attitudes become more nontraditional during divorce process experience less distress, more well-being and personal growth, higher self-esteem, and greater sense of personal effectiveness than women who maintain traditional sex role…

The role of women in American society has changed dramatically in the last century and will continue to change. Women must become competent and gain self-confidence for their new roles.

We cannot accurately speak of women and men in general. Each one of us is a human being before being 'man' or 'woman.' And each one of us, man or woman, has roles and functions to fulfill, individually, inter-individually and socially. Here is where the differences begin. These are most emphatically not differences in value, only differences in…

Women bring distinct needs to adventure experiences and a unique perspective that would be beneficial if incorporated in all facets of outdoor experiential education. By labeling myths that impede our realization of gender differences, we begin to ensure that outdoor adventure will be a positive, holistic experience for women. (JHZ)

Discusses the search for gender identity in the midst of conflicting messages from modern society and reviews the American tradition of looking to outdoor adventure as a means of affirming gender-based community. Urges experiential educators to be sensitive to gender-related anxiety and aware of the benefits of same-sex groups. (JHZ)

This booklet contains descriptions of 34 sex equity projects in Oregon. Project descriptions contain such information as a contact person and the project's audience, procedures, outcomes, and funding sources. The projects are organized under three headings--displaced homemaker projects, support services/special needs projects, and women in…

Women who are able to acknowledge their distinctive perceptions and to relate them to their lives are the ones most likely to expose the oppressiveness of a power-driven society. Nathaniel Hawthorne's fictional character, Hester Prynne ("The Scarlet Letter") illustrates a crucial theme: a woman's faculty for critical awareness and her ability to…

This handbook is designed to accompany three films: "Hey! What About Us?", "I is for Important", and "Anything They Want to Be." Their combined purpose is to help teachers become aware of what sex role stereotyping is. The films illustrate common examples of sex bias. The handbook suggests classroom activities and discussion questions which…

The characteristics, motives and goals of mature male students (N=22) are compared to those of an age-matched sample of mature women continuing their education. Men continued their education for career-oriented reasons, while women were seeking more personal goals. Explanations are suggested for male compliance with stereotypes. (Author)