Abstract
A small but growing body of research confirms that people in the LGBTQ + (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other identities) community are among those underrepresented in STEM (science, technology engineering, and math). This is concerning because diversity and inclusion improves science for all. In response, Canadian institutions have developed initiatives aimed to address issues in which LGBTQ + students disproportionately leave STEM fields. LGBTQ + postdoctoral scholars (postdocs) are of particular interest because they have developed clear professional and LGBTQ + identities, they are significant contributors to their fields, and they work at the intersection of STEM students and faculty. Studies have highlighted poor job satisfaction and career opportunities for this group. This qualitative study explored the values, beliefs, and experiences of 14 Canadian LGBQ + postdocs in STEM through semi-structured interviews about coming out, experiences of LGBQ + mentorship/representation, and their beliefs on staying within science and academia. Interview data was analyzed thematically from a post-structural perspective. Main themes emerged: (1) coming out, (2) representation, and (3) mentorship. This exploratory qualitative study offers insight into how the experiences of this understudied group are helpful in disentangling discourses surrounding coming out, representation, and mentorship for LGBQ + researchers in STEM.
Résumé
Un nombre réduit, mais grandissant d’études confirme que les membres de la communauté LGBTQ + (lesbiennes, gais, bisexuels, transgenres, queers et autres identités) font partie des personnes qui sont sous-représentées dans le domaine des STIM (sciences, technologies, ingénierie et mathématiques). Cette situation est préoccupante, car la diversité et l’inclusion bonifient la science, et ce, au profit de tout le monde. En réponse à cette situation, les établissements canadiens ont mis en place des initiatives visant à s’attaquer aux problèmes liés au fait que les étudiants de la communauté LGBTQ + quittent de manière disproportionnée les domaines des STIM. Les chercheurs postdoctoraux LGBTQ + revêtent un intérêt particulier, car ils ont assumé une identité professionnelle et LGBTQ + affirmée, ils contribuent de manière importante à leurs domaines et ils travaillent au croisement de la communauté étudiante et du corps professoral des STIM. Des études ont mis en évidence un faible taux de satisfaction au travail ainsi qu’un manque de possibilités de carrière pour ce groupe. Dans cette étude qualitative, nous avons exploré les valeurs, les croyances et les expériences de 14 chercheurs postdoctoraux LGBQ + canadiens dans le domaine des STIM par le biais d’entrevues semi-structurées portant sur leur sortie du placard, leurs expériences de mentorat ou de représentation LGBQ + (ou les deux) et leurs convictions quant à leur volonté de rester dans le milieu scientifique et universitaire. Nous avons analysé thématiquement les données tirées des entrevues à partir d’une perspective poststructurelle. Les principaux thèmes suivants ont émergé: 1) la sortie du placard, 2) la représentation et 3) le mentorat. Cette étude qualitative exploratoire permet de dégager certaines idées entourant les expériences de ce groupe sous-étudié, et de voir comment ces expériences s’avèrent utiles pour clarifier les discours portant sur la sortie du placard, la représentation et le mentorat en ce qui concerne les chercheurs LGBQ + dans les STIM.
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A summary of the anonymized data that support the findings of this study are available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars for assisting us with recruitment for the study by sending our advertisement to their network of Canadian postdoctoral scholars. We would like to acknowledge Mount Saint Vincent University and The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Atlantic Region) for funding this research.
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This work was supported by Mount Saint Vincent University and the NSERC Chair of Women in Science and Engineering grant #413497.
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Bonardi, O., Burchell, D., Franz-Odendaal, T.A. et al. “My Discipline is Never Going to Survive if it Continues Being the Discipline of Straight White Men”: Experiences of LGBQ + Science Postdoctoral Scholars in Canada. Can. J. Sci. Math. Techn. Educ. 23, 282–302 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-023-00275-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-023-00275-0