Graduation Year

2022

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biological and Physical Sciences

Program or Major

Biology

Faculty Advisor

Jessica McCready

Abstract

Women make up more than half of biology-related doctoral degrees yet are still underrepresented in the faculty and higher-level positions of this field. This disparity is referred to as the leaky pipeline problem and exists in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. The goal of the research paper is to bring the leaky pipeline problem to the forefront and analyze solutions that can address it. This thesis will address the impacts of gender biases that people experience through childhood, adolescence, and high school into college and contribute to the lower retention of women in science. It will also investigate challenges women face while in academia that may cause them to leave and will conclude with a proposed solution to this leaky pipeline problem.

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