The Blue Blazer Club: Masculine Hegemony in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fields

The under-representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields is of continuing concern, as is the lack of women in senior positions and leadership roles. During a time of increasing demand for science and engineering enterprise, the lack of women and minorities in these academic disciplines needs to be addressed by concentrated institutional attention and resources. Although the overall historical gender inequity in earned doctorates is decreasing, women remain underrepresented in scientific and engineering disciplines in the workforce and in faculty positions. Given the gendered patterns evident in engineering and STEM academic disciplines, it is important to consider the factors contributing to these phenomena, including the interplay between work and family constraints in academic careers. Rather than simply male dominance or individual preferences or capacities, this under-representation in STEM is also due to ―deep seated‖ gender barriers, such as the persistent belief in gender differences in abilities which maintains the status quo and affirms current inequalities as ―natural.‖ Our paper focuses on hegemonic masculinities in organizations to better understand the institutionalization of gender inequalities.