Szego Seminar: "Factors Driving Women to Choose Mathematics: A Review of the Research"

Abstract: Mathematics has the lowest retention rate of any college major, and it is lower yet for women. In a large-scale controlled study, Ellis, Fosdick, and Rasmussen found that women are 1.5 times more likely than men to leave calculus sequences and STEM degree programs after taking Calculus 1, although not due to a lack of mathematical ability. At each subsequent educational and career stage, women’s participation in mathematics also drops significantly.

     Despite the underrepresentation of women in mathematics being a well-known problem, conclusive evidence determining the factors that lead women to continue in rather than leave mathematics, especially in more advanced levels, has not yet been well established. This talk will summarize the results of a literature review studying factors that drive women to initially pursue math degree programs and then continue in mathematical career paths. Specifically, it will introduce strategies shown to be promising in increasing women’s participation in math and pedagogical methods proved efficacious in retaining women in STEM degree programs. A focus will be on methods and projects that aim to connect and empower students.

Host: Nathan Wagner