ERIC Number: EJ1289769
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0897-5264
EISSN: N/A
Women's Daily Positive Experiences and Engagement in US Male-Dominated Academic Majors
Lawson, Katie M.
Journal of College Student Development, v62 n1 p112-117 Jan-Feb 2021
Women in male-dominated majors (MDMs), such as computer science, experience higher attrition rates than their male peers. Women in MDMs retrospectively report via surveys more negative events, sexism for instance, and fewer positive events, such as support from male peers in MDMs and female peers in gender-neutral majors (GNMs) like history. To address gaps in the literature, this study used experience sampling methodology (ESM) to compare the daily positive major-related events for women in MDMs to events experienced by men in MDMs and women in GNMs in terms of their frequency and association with major engagement. Participants (N = 120) included 40 women and 40 men from MDMs and 40 women from GNMs. Results indicate that women in MDMs report similar levels of daily positive major events, relative to their peers. The results, however, suggest that positive events may be less beneficial for women's engagement in MDMs. Negative components of male-dominated environments may moderate the benefits of positive experiences.
Descriptors: Females, College Students, Majors (Students), Disproportionate Representation, Student Experience, Learner Engagement, Positive Attitudes
Johns Hopkins University Press. 2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Tel: 800-548-1784; Tel: 410-516-6987; Fax: 410-516-6968; e-mail: jlorder@jhupress.jhu.edu; Web site: http://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/subscribe.html
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