Women of color are deeply underrepresented in physics. Between 2002 and 2012, only 1% of graduating physics majors were Black women and another 1% were Latinas; only 61 American Indian women total completed degrees in physics in those years (out of 48,000 physics majors). This isolation can lead to additional obstacles that women of color majoring in physics must face above and beyond the challenging material. In this article we draw on qualitative findings to describe common obstacles women of color face. However, departments can take deliberate steps so that underrepresentation need not turn into loneliness and isolation. We describe the characteristics of a department where women of color report that they are thriving. We end with concrete steps physics faculty can take to support women physics majors of color.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
September 2017
RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR PAPERS ON RACE AND PHYSICS TEACHING (CO-EDITOR GERALDINE COCHRAN)|
September 01 2017
Common Challenges Faced by Women of Color in Physics, and Actions Faculty Can Take to Minimize Those Challenges
Special Collection:
Race and Physics Teaching
Apriel Hodari
Apriel Hodari
3
Eureka Scientific, Inc.
, Washington, DC
Search for other works by this author on:
Phys. Teach. 55, 356–360 (2017)
Citation
Angela Johnson, Maria Ong, Lily T. Ko, Janet Smith, Apriel Hodari; Common Challenges Faced by Women of Color in Physics, and Actions Faculty Can Take to Minimize Those Challenges. Phys. Teach. 1 September 2017; 55 (6): 356–360. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4999731
Download citation file:
Pay-Per-View Access
$40.00
Sign In
You could not be signed in. Please check your credentials and make sure you have an active account and try again.
Citing articles via
A “Perpetual Motion Machine” Powered by Electromagnetism
Hollis Williams
Jack Reacher and the Deployment of an Airbag
Gregory A. DiLisi, Richard A. Rarick
Sauntering Sauropods: The Preferred Walking Speeds of the Largest Land Animals That Ever Lived
Scott A. Lee, Justyna Slowiak
Related Content
Commentary: Diversity in physics: Are you part of the problem?
Physics Today (May 2017)
Concepts first: A course with improved educational outcomes and parity for underrepresented minority groups
American Journal of Physics (August 2017)
Physics faculty and educational researchers: Divergent expectations as barriers to the diffusion of innovations
Am. J. Phys. (January 2008)
Investigating Physics Self-Belief of Female African-American Students
Phys. Teach. (October 2018)
Teaching About Racial Equity in Introductory Physics Courses
Phys. Teach. (September 2017)