Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Restricted to Claremont Colleges Dissertation
Degree Name
Education, PhD
Program
School of Educational Studies
Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair
Dina Maramba
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Gwen Garrison
Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member
Guan Saw
Terms of Use & License Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Rights Information
© 2026 Ximena Martinez
Keywords
online content analysis, sense of belonging in STEM, STEM identity, STEM social media, women of color in STEM
Subject Categories
Higher Education
Abstract
This study explores the role of STEM-focused social media in shaping STEM identity and fostering a sense of belonging among professional and graduate-level women of color. Despite ongoing diversity initiatives, women of color remain underrepresented across various STEM fields, reflecting persistent inequities in participation (NCSES, 2023). This qualitative study draws on semi-structured narrative interviews as the primary data source, supported by complementary online content analysis. The study examines STEM-related content on Instagram to identify common content types and thematic patterns on a key social media platform used by women of color in STEM. Guided by social identity theory and intersectionality, this study examines how participants navigate layered and intersecting identities, particularly professional identity, within STEM contexts. Findings are organized into six themes: early engagement with STEM social media, validation of STEM identity and belonging, COVID-19 as a catalyst for content creation and visibility, navigating a volatile political and social landscape, social media as a supplement or substitute for traditional STEM spaces, and compartmentalized identity and belonging across platforms. Implications suggest that digital engagement with STEM-focused social media may be an important consideration within broader efforts to foster inclusion and belonging in STEM.
ISBN
9798247922216
Recommended Citation
Martinez, Ximena. (2026). Exploring the Impact of Social Media in Shaping STEM Identity and Sense of Belonging Among Women of Color. CGU Theses & Dissertations, 1113. https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/1113.
