MEN AND WOMEN ON THE STEM TRACK. SIMILAR OR DIVERSE?

Abstract

Much attention has been directed towards explaining and overcoming the low representation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. In this study, we aimed to test gender differences among men and women on the STEM track: female and male students enrolled in STEM majors. We found that women (versus men) feel less competent in STEM, value work in STEM less, and have a lower expectancy of succe eding in STEM. When it comes to career goals, women were equally agentic but more communal. We failed to find any gender differences regarding a sense of belonging to STEM, or in general behavioral intentions to engage in STEM. To conclude, although we replicated some of the hypothesis about gender differences, we found preliminary evidence that there may be indeed fewer gender differences among those already engaged in STEM than we might have expected based on the previous research.