STEM & Gender equity: empowering women in vulnerable environments

Abstract

In recent years, global efforts to generate a culture of gender equity have been made. However, in Latin American countries, these efforts have been insufficient in the presence of the latent reality of inequality and violence suffered by women. Faced with this reality, universities should not be distant from this environment, so initiatives have been developed that impact women and this culture of gender equity, especially in the academic area. The purpose of this research is to determine the variables that directly affect the engagement of public high school students in their development and empowerment as women and to awaken their interest in STEM areas, and the personal impact in undergraduate students of STEM areas about equity gender and social responsibility. The methodology is of a mixed nature: 1) design of Mentoring Program and workshops in STEM and Gender equity, and research´s methodology planning; 2) integration of the leading team, 3) implementation of the program with public high school women students, undergraduate students, and women teacher of STEM areas; 4) preliminary evaluations through beneficiary surveys, reflection blogs with undergraduate students and interviews with a sample of student mentors and mentor teachers; and 5) data analysis and exploration of the replicability of the model on another campus. Among the preliminary findings with high school women students are: a) a high interest in topics of STEM careers (despite not being in the specialty in high school), b) resources limitations and time restrictions due to their reality and c) a personal discovery through the interaction of undergraduate women students and women teachers, both as mentors. Despite the circumstances, it was decided to develop it because this reality cannot wait to seek a change, and it is the women helping other young women that can make possible the cultural and social change.