ERIC Number: EJ1273676
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2379-7762
EISSN: N/A
Examining the STEM Climate for Queer Students with Disabilities
Miller, Ryan A.; Downey, Megan
Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, v33 n2 p169-181 Sum 2020
Increasing participation and success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields continues to be a national imperative, with particular attention paid to eliminating barriers for women and underrepresented students of color. Some attention has been paid to the underrepresentation of students with disabilities in STEM fields, while few researchers have focused on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students in STEM. Literature about both students with disabilities and LGBTQ students suggest challenges and barriers that may prevent these groups from successfully persisting in STEM majors. This qualitative study examined the campus experiences of five queer students with disabilities in STEM fields at a predominantly white research university. Findings reveal that participants encountered male-centered, heteronormative STEM spaces, physical and social inaccessibility on campus, a lack of intersectional resources, and marginalization in and out of the classroom. We offer a holistic portrayal of students' higher education experiences and of their multiple identities, as students elaborated on their experiences and marginalization related not only to disability and LGBTQ identities, but also to gender, race, and ethnicity. The study offers one contribution to further exploration of the higher education experiences of students with multiple marginalized identities and presents ways that faculty and staff may seek to improve the classroom and overall campus environment for students.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Students with Disabilities, LGBTQ People, Student Experience, College Students, Social Bias, Gender Bias, Disability Discrimination, College Environment, Accessibility (for Disabled), Majors (Students), Educational Resources, Identification (Psychology), Social Support Groups, Administrator Role, Teacher Role, College Faculty
Association on Higher Education and Disability. 8015 West Kenton Circle Suite 230, Huntersville, NC 28078. Tel: 704-947-7779; Fax: 704-948-7779; e-mail: JPED@ahead.org; Web site: https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A