Working in a Man’s World: Explaining Women’s Career Confidence and Career Persistence in STEM by Gender Identity Threat through the Configuration of Professional and Gender Identities.

Abstract

Compared to men, women in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experience decreased levels of career confidence and persistence in STEM and therefore continue to be underrepresented in STEM. This study proposes that higher levels of gender identity threat negatively affects career confidence and persistence of men and women in STEM. Additionally, the configuration of professional and gender identities of men and women in STEM explains why increased gender identity threat leads to declined career confidence and persistence in STEM. To test these expectations, a quantitative cross-sectional design was used to analyze data containing men (N = 790) and women (N = 189) in STEM studies and occupations. The data is analyzed by means of a regression analysis, multiple nominal logistic regression analysis and two analyses of covariance. The results indicate that with higher levels of gender identity threat only leads men and women to experience declined persistence in STEM and not declined career confidence. Additionally, identity configuration explains the relationship between gender identity threat and persistence in STEM, as such that individuals with higher levels of gender identity threat are more likely to lead to conflicted (low professional/high gender identification) than integrated identity configuration. Which in turn explains why men and women with threatened gender identities experienced lower levels of persistence in STEM.