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GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016

Paper No. 97-1
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM

MIXED METHODS STUDY TO INVESTIGATE SEXIST EXPERIENCES ENCOUNTERED BY UNDERGRADUATE GEOSCIENCE STUDENTS (Invited Presentation)


SEXTON, Julie M.1, NEWMAN, Harmony2, BERGSTROM, Cassendra3, PUGH, Kevin3, RIGGS, Eric M.4 and PHILLIPS, Michael3, (1)Mathematics and Science Teaching Institute, University of Northern Colorado, Ross Hall 1210, Campus Box 123, Greeley, CO 80639, (2)Sociology and Gender Studies, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 154, Greeley, CO 80639, (3)School of Psychological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Campus Box 94, Greeley, CO 80639, (4)College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University, Room 202, Eller O&M Building, MS 3148 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, julie.sexton@unco.edu

Undergraduate female students encounter various forms of sexism as they progress through academic science programs. About 40% of undergraduate geoscience degrees are conferred on women, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the sexist experiences encountered by female students in a discipline that has increased the percentage of women. We conducted a mixed methods study to investigate the sexist experiences encountered by female students in six geoscience departments. This presentation has two purposes: 1) to discuss our rationale for using a mixed methods research approach, and 2) to share our results.

Our mixed methods approach allowed us to gather in-depth data about the gendered experiences encountered by female students and to examine statistical trends across a large sample of participants. We collected quantitative survey data from several hundred students. The survey data examined the extent to which students encountered gender discrimination in the departments. Through interviews, we also collected qualitative data from 80 students and 35 faculty members to explore the types of sexism female students encountered. Quantitative and qualitative data results confirm that female students encountered sexism in all six departments. Qualitative data show that female students experienced sexism from faculty and other students and that two types of sexism were encountered: hostile and benevolent. Hostile sexism was most prevalent at sites with a lower percentage of female undergraduate degrees conferred and least prevalent at sites with a higher percentage of female undergraduate degrees conferred. Although the rate of sexist experiences seemed to decline as the number of female students increased, hostile experiences still occurred, potentially affecting long-term retention of female students in geoscience after graduation. Efforts to reduce sexist experiences are needed even in disciplines, like geoscience, that have made strides to increase the percentage of women.

Session No. 97

T82. Methodological Decision Making in Geoscience Education Research
Monday, 26 September 2016: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Mile High Ballroom 4EF (Colorado Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7
doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-278443
© Copyright 2016 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
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