Black Women In STEM

Reimagining the Role of Information Science as a Pathway to STEM Equity in the United States

Authors

  • Joanna Adewunmi University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
  • Melissa Ocepek University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cais1925

Keywords:

Black women, STEM, Gender, Race, Information behavior, United States

Abstract

The persistent underrepresentation of Black women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields is largely attributed to their race and gender. With measures and interventions being continually undertaken to attain race and gender parity in STEM workforce, there is a lack of information science-based approaches in literature and practice. This might account for the less progress and increase recorded in the participation of Black women in the profession. This gap in STEM fields is an issue of national importance that seeks urgent solution. This paper aims to highlight the experiences of Black women in STEM, and implications for policy and practice.

 

Les femmes noires en STIM: repenser le rôle des sciences de l'information comme voie d'accès à l'équité en STIM aux États-Unis

Résumé
La sous-représentation persistante des femmes noires en sciences, technologie, ingénierie et mathématiques (STIM) est largement attribuée à leur race et à leur genre. Alors que des mesures et des interventions sont continuellement entreprises pour atteindre la parité entre les races et les genres au sein de la main-d'œuvre en STIM, les approches fondées sur les sciences de l'information sont insuffisantes dans la littérature et dans la pratique. Cela pourrait expliquer le peu de progrès et d'augmentation dans la participation des femmes noires à la profession. Ce fossé dans le domaine des STIM est une question d'importance nationale qui nécessite une solution urgente. Cet article vise à mettre en lumière les expériences des femmes noires en STIM et les implications pour la politique et la pratique.

Mots-clés
Genre; race; STIM; comportement informationnel

References

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Published

2025-05-23

How to Cite

Adewunmi, J., & Ocepek, M. (2025). Black Women In STEM: Reimagining the Role of Information Science as a Pathway to STEM Equity in the United States. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS Actes Du congrès Annuel De l’ACSI. https://doi.org/10.29173/cais1925

Issue

Section

Work in Progress / Recherche en cours