Minority women in the workplace: Early career challenges and strategies for overcoming obstacles

Abstract

Approximately one in four women leave the engineering profession within the first five years, a rate much higher than their male counterparts[7]. Studies of STEM professionals have found that women encounter numerous challenges in hiring and reviews of performance due to implicit bias[12]. Women of minority backgrounds are held to stricter standards of competence than whites and are less likely to be recognized for their skills[21].