Episode 005: STEM, Sexism, and Self-Validation

Ellis, J., Fosdick, B.K., & Rasmussen, C. 2016. Women 1.5 Times More Likely to Leave STEM Pipeline after Calculus Compared to Men: Lack of Mathematical Confidence a Potential Culprit. PLoS One 11(7).

We found a study that took the shortage of women in math, science, and engineering head-on! This in turn led to a good conversation about our own experiences with Calculus I and the realization that we’re all probably nerds. The academic job market is pretty rough to begin with, so being aware of what might bar women from entering a desired science, engineering, or mathematics-based field would be a step towards gender parity in academia.

Long story short: women don’t pursue science because they think they’re bad at math, regardless of actual mathematical aptitude.

Follow us on Twitter!

• The Show: @expertcitation


• Joe: @JoeMCuevas


• Kelsey: @advsinchem


• Tyler: @TylerJBurch