| Affiliations: | |
| Project Leader: | Mary Jane Vickers mjv120893@tamu.edu Sociology |
| Faculty Mentor: | Dr. Joseph Jewell, Ph.D. |
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Meeting Times:
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TBD |
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Team Size:
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3
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| Open Spots: | 0 |
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Special Opportunities:
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Interviewing experience, exploration of qualitative methods and race-gender sociology
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Team Needs:
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Interview skills, some familiarity with Zoom, notetaking ability |
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Description:
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This research explores race and gender-based inequality in an academic setting with regard to female, Asian students enrolled in an engineering program. While much of the current research examines test-taking and professional environments, special attention here is being paid to students’ long-term, personal experiences with race and gender in a field that is predominantly white and male. The aim of this research is to examine the unique intersectional experience of these students via thorough, individual interviews regarding experiences such as microaggressions, harassment, and isolation. Studies on qualitative research methodology have demonstrated that participants are more responsive to questions regarding sensitive material, such as racial bias, when the interviewer shares their race/ethnic identity. Because this research delves into Asian-American students’ experiences with racial bias, interviewers who identify as Asian or Asian-American would be ideal for this study. This study proposes to offer a better understanding of the ethnic and gendered experiences of these students so that efforts such as mentoring programs, fellowships, and diversity training can be created to lessen such inequalities and prevent the loss of students in these programs. In answering these questions, this study seeks to not only reveal important information regarding the degree and frequency to which female Asian engineering students may experience race and gender-based discrimination, but also what exactly these experiences are |