Seeking congruity for communal and agentic goals: a longitudinal examination of U.S. college women’s persistence in STEM

Abstract An abundance of literature has examined barriers to women’s equitable representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, with many studies demonstrating that STEM fields are not perceived afford communal goals, a key component interest future careers. Using Goal Congruity Theory as framework, we tested the longitudinal impact perceptions career goal affordances, personal agentic endorsements, their congruity on persistence science from second through fourth years college among women majors United States. We found intent persist were highest fall year, intentions exhibited sharp decline, eventually leveled off by year college. This pattern was moderated affordances STEM, such who believe careers opportunity for achievement individualism experienced smaller declines. higher consistently predicted indicating may benefit affords goals. Finally, also had greater persist, this relationship stronger conclude because stereotyped affording identify major during first be drawn these reason