Voices of Female Students Studying at Vocational Technical Sciences School of Higher Education about STEM Careers

Abstract

This study aims to uncover female students’ feelings about being students at Technical Sciences Vocational School (VTSSHE) and what they think about pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Turkey after graduation. In this study, where data have been collected through semi-structured interviews conducted individually and face-to-face with six female students studying at one of the leading universities in Istanbul, the phenomenological qualitative research method is used; the inductive thematic analysis approach is used to analyse the interview data. The study's findings show that almost all participants have a role model that inspires them when choosing the program. All participants want to complete the four-year program and continue their careers in the STEM field as engineers. However, they are worried about finding a job in the sector because they think men are more likely to be employed in these fields. The participants state that their families initially have prejudice and concerns about sending them to vocational schools because they are female students. However, these prejudices and concerns have decreased over time, and the idea has become more accepted. The participants also have stated that they are happy to have a female faculty member at their school and that this situation is an inspiring role model for them. As a result, encouraging female scientists to pursue careers in STEM fields and ensuring that society encounters female scientists more in their daily lives are important in encouraging female students to choose a career in STEM in the future and ensuring the support of their families.

Keywords

• Gender
• women
• vocational school of technical sciences
• STEM careers

Teknik Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu'nda Öğrenim Gören Kız Öğrencilerin FeTeMM Kariyerine İlişkin Görüşleri

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, kız öğrencilerin Teknik Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu (TBMYO) öğrencisi olma konusundaki hislerini ve mezun olduktan sonra Türkiye’de (f)en, (t)eknoloji, (m)ühendislik ve (m)atematik (FeTeMM) alanlarında kariyer yapma konusunda ne düşündüklerini araştırmaktır. İstanbul’un önde gelen üniversitelerinden birinde öğrenim gören altı kız öğrenciyle bireysel ve yüz yüze yapılan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmelerle verilerin toplandığı bu araştırmada fenomenolojik nitel araştırma yöntemi; görüşme verilerinin analizinde tümevarımsal tematik analiz yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın bulguları, katılımcıların hemen hepsinin programı seçerken kendilerine ilham veren bir rol modele sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Katılımcıların tamamı dört yıllık programı tamamlayıp mühendis olarak FeTeMM alanında kariyerlerini sürdürmeyi istemektedirler. Ancak, bu alanlarda erkeklerin işe alınma olasılığının daha yüksek olduğu düşüncesiyle sektörde iş bulma konusunda endişe duymaktadırlar. Katılımcılar ailelerinin kız öğrenci oldukları için kendilerini meslek okuluna gönderme konusunda başlangıçta önyargı ve endişeye sahip olduklarını ama zaman içerisinde onların bu önyargı ve endişelerinin azaldığını ve bu fikrin daha fazla kabul gördüğünü ifade etmektedirler. Katılımcılar ayrıca okullarında bir kadın öğretim üyesinin olmasından da mutlu olduklarını ve bu durumun kendileri için ilham verici bir rol model olduğunu belirtmektedirler. Sonuç olarak kadın bilim insanlarının FeTeMM alanlarında kariyer yapmalarının teşvik edilmesi ve toplumun kadın bilim insanlarıyla günlük hayatlarında daha fazla karşılaşması gelecekte kız öğrencilerin FeTeMM alanında kariyer tercihi yapmalarının ve ailelerinin desteğinin sağlanması açısından önem taşımaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cinsiyet
• kadın
• FeTeMM kariyeri
• teknik bilimler meslek yüksekokulu

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