Negotiating and resisting gender stereotypes in STEM

Abstract

Women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in sub-Saharan Africa. Gender-based stereotypes have been documented as among the major barriers shaping their participation. However, few studies have explored how women who persist in STEM negotiate these stereotypes in the sub-Saharan context. Using secondary interview data from 13 participants from Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon, the present study explored how women experience and negotiate gender-based stereotypes in STEM fields. The study revealed that stereotypes often challenged the intellectual competence and belonging of women while reinforcing expectations about femininity and capability in STEM. Despite these structural barriers, the participants negotiated stereotypes by using relational strategies such as academic achievement, psychological resilience, and self-definition to challenge exclusionary narratives and assert their presence in STEM. The findings suggest the need for institutions to create a more inclusive and equitable environment that fosters women’s participation and belonging in STEM.