The past few weeks have consisted of lots and lots of reading. As I’ve been going through other research studies done on our topic of subtle gender bias in STEM, I found that their conclusions (as well as our own) closely align with my own experiences as a woman of color in STEM. One article that I was reading discussed the intersections of race and gender when it comes to microaggressions in STEM-related workplaces. The testimonies of the women of color in the study resonated with my experiences while navigating through academia, especially in my STEM courses. There is much to be said about how gendered bias is affected by race and specifically how it can be more harmful, especially when racial stereotypes are involved. It felt nice to know that my specific experiences with microaggressions and bias are more common than I thought. Reading through all these studies is far less tedious when the subject matter speaks to me in such a personal way.
With only a few weeks left in the program, we’ve also begun working on our symposium presentations. As I work on my slideshow, I still can’t believe how fast this summer has flown by. Between working at my local mall and doing research work, the days are passing with haste. By the time I know it, I’ll be preparing to go back to school for the next term! As we’re soon to be wrapping up, I’m really grateful that I decided to join UROP this summer. I’ve gotten to work on a meaningful project that holds personal relevance to me and I also found a great sense of community with the other fellows. I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of the summer has to offer!
