title: STEMing the tide: using ingroup experts to inoculate women's self-concept in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
abstract: Three studies tested a stereotype inoculation model, which proposed that contact with same-sex experts (advanced peers, professionals, professors) in academic environments involving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) enhances women's self-concept in STEM, attitudes toward STEM, and motivation to pursue STEM careers. Two cross-sectional controlled experiments and 1 longitudinal naturalistic study in a calculus class revealed that exposure to female STEM experts promoted positive implicit attitudes and stronger implicit identification with STEM (Studies 1-3), greater self-efficacy in STEM (Study 3), and more effort on STEM tests (Study 1). Studies 2 and 3 suggested that the benefit of seeing same-sex experts is driven by greater subjective identification and connectedness with these individuals, which in turn predicts enhanced self-efficacy, domain identification, and commitment to pursue STEM careers. Importantly, women's own self-concept benefited from contact with female experts even though negative stereotypes about their gender and STEM remained active.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. jgstout@psych.umass.edu
authors.forename: Jane G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Nilanjana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunsinger
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McManus
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001290:Attitude; D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004738:Engineering; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D010379:Peer Group; D012586:Science; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013672:Technology