Professional Development of Women in STEM Careers: Evidence from a Latin American Country

Abstract

During the last decades, there have been important changes in the entry and participation of women in public life, especially in the workforce. However, this positive evolution of women is not reflected in their participation in the STEM fields, where we identified a significant gender gap. Thus, this phenomenological study analyses the factors that affect the career advancement of women in STEM, identifying the individual, family, social and economic/labour factors that, according to the experiences of these women, make an impact. The sample was made up of fifteen professional women (not in academia) in STEM careers in Perú. Data were collected, encoded, categorised and analysed according to the stages suggested by Moustakas (1994). The findings of the study were related to the gender roles and stereotypes that affect women within the STEM professional context. The study proposes a conceptual framework that shows 12 elements that affect the professional development of women in STEM. The originality of this research lies in the fact that it analyses this phenomenon in Peru, where women’s labour force participation rate is the highest in the region and the majority of students who graduate from undergraduate programmes are women. The results will help academic authorities and policymakers to identify the barriers that affect this population and develop policies to improve the situation of professional women in the STEM workforce.