Date Approved
3-3-2025
Embargo Period
3-17-2027
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Educational Leadership
College
College of Education
Advisor
Ane Turner Johnson, PhD
Committee Member 1
Monica Reid Kerigan, EdD
Committee Member 2
Stephanie Lezotte, PhD
Keywords
Career Trajectories;Critical Feminist Theory;Gender Inequity in STEM;Sexism in Higher Education;Social Cognitive Career Theory;Undergraduate Biological Sciences
Disciplines
Education | Educational Leadership
Abstract
Despite women earning over 60% of undergraduate biology degrees, systemic barriers and gender biases continue to hinder their career advancement. This transformative mixed methods study explored women's experiences during undergraduate biological sciences studies, focusing on personal, environmental, and contextual factors influencing their career decisions. Using a sequential explanatory design with a case selection variant, quantitative survey data from 100 participants identified significant trends in the frequency of sexist experiences. Qualitative interviews with 15 women who participated in the survey provided deeper insights into how microaggressions, exclusionary experiences, and internalized sexism affect confidence and career trajectories. The study’s transformative approach emphasized both understanding and addressing inequities through actionable recommendations. Key strategies include training programs to mitigate gendered biases and institutional policies that enhance mentorship and peer support. By integrating quantitative and qualitative findings, this research highlights the importance of fostering individual resilience and systemic change to promote equity in biology education and careers, contributing to the broader goal of advancing gender diversity in STEM fields.
Recommended Citation
Roberto, Rosemary Grace, "FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER: A FEMINIST MIXED METHODS INQUIRY INTO HOW UNDERGRADUATE SEXISM AFFECTS WOMEN’S PATHWAYS IN BIOLOGY" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3337.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3337
