Introduction

My name is Jessica Quinton and I am currently pursuing and Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction at USC.  My research interests are related to girls and science.  Historically, women have not been represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers in the same way that men have been represented.  Since STEM careers are lucrative, this under-representation is one reason that women have not been able to close the wage gap between men and women. Why do women not choose STEM careers?  There has been research on why women do not pursue STEM careers.  However, I want to understand the experiences of women who have pursued STEM careers.  Specifically I'm interested in women who pursue STEM careers, what experiences have made them successful in their careers, and how they have overcome obstacles in their careers.