Repositioning Race, Gender, and Role Identity Formation for Black Women in Engineering

Identity theory has been leveraged to explore interest in STEM fields in the K-12 space with particular focus on race or gender. This position paper recommends expanding this use of identity theory to explore identity at the intersection of race, gender, and role to better understand the experiences of Black women in engineering. This piece provides a foundational review of identity theory and how it has been operationalized in science and engineering to provide insight into career pathways, continued engagement, and success of underrepresented populations in these fields. Broadening the current use of identity theory to reexamine engineering experiences through the lens of a Black woman's perspective could yield new conclusions with implications for engineering diversity.