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Perceptions About Women In Science And Engineering History, Heidi Reeder, Patricia A. Pyke, Lynn Lubamersky, Seung Youn Chyung, Cheryl B. Schrader

Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study investigated college students' perceptions about the contributions of women to the history of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) (N = 1,147). Students were asked to write down as many famous or historically important scientists, inventors or engineers they could think of. After one minute, they were instructed to write down as many famous or historically important women scientists, inventors or engineers they could think of. For the first question, 95% of the responses referred to male scientists, inventors or engineers. For the second question, respondents named on average less than one woman (M=.86), and those named were …