Scholarly discourse about women in the steam fields : an exploratory studyon scientific literature

Abstract

Women’s roles in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) are a pressing and prominent topic in global discussions and social agendas. UNESCO has reported that gender inequalities in STEAM education and employment lead to further disparities in status and income (UNESCO, 2019). This concern has significant implications for the industry and society, including self-reflection in scholarly literature. The goal of this research is to present an exploratory analysis of scientific discourse about women in STEAM using quantitative and qualitative methods. Firstly, we study literature reviews to grasp how academia shapes the knowledge in STEAM and conceives it as a field with a gender perspective. Secondly, we explore the scientific production in EBSCO to have a comprehensive analysis of how scientists are considering women in the STEAM sector. Last, we provide reflections for future trends intending to share critical insights into gender studies and STEAM fields.