Originally published on Mar 8, 2016
Not too long ago I ran across an article written about a study conducted by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. The results of this study concluded that an overwhelming number of African Americans in college tend to pursue majors in lower-paying fields (which often lead to lower-paying jobs), and therefore are more susceptible to economic hardship and everything that comes along with it. Funny enough, most of these low-paying majors correspond with occupations that function to serve others.
I could probably go on and on about how upsetting the undervaluation of service fields in American society is, but I won't. Instead, I want to focus on the phenomenon itself. After reading this article, I made the unfortunate mistake of scrolling down to the comments section...and it was everything you could imagine it to be. Folks who undoubtedly knew very little when it came to this subject made claim after claim about my race. I read assertions that stated things from "they chose those majors" and "they can't compete" to "maybe there just dumb or too lazy to try." (I don't feel the need to 'clap back' to comments because I think it's useless, but it took so much in me not to point out the obvious in that last one!).
Yes, everyone has a choice when it comes to choosing their field of study. Yes, there are people who may not have the acumen or willpower to make it through an organic chemistry or fluid mechanics course. Those are facts. To suggest that these reasons alone are why Black students are underrepresented in higher-paying majors - that is offensive. (But I'm sure you knew that).
African American college enrollment has increased over the years and yet gravitation toward fields outside of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is still ongoing. Why? While I can't speak for everyone, my own experience and what I've learned from open conversations with others allow me to give at least one significant reason: personal relevance.
More often than not, it's fairly easy to see how fields in the realms of social work and early childhood education apply directly to one's community and/or family. Occupations in areas such as these are essential to the welfare of all people; their significance is obvious. However, when it comes to something like industrial engineering or computer science, their relevancy can become a bit nebulous. What does that have to do with me, my family, or the people I love? How would doing this help to better my community?
Like many students, I applied to college not knowing what direction I wanted to take. I bounced back and forth between wanting to be everything from an ER doctor to an elementary school teacher. It just so happened that my mom said she thought it would be good idea for me to apply to engineering school. At first I resisted, but since I was so indecisive I eventually gave it a good 'Kanye shrug' and applied. I had no idea what engineering was (outside of driving trains and building bridges) let alone what it could do for me and those I cared about. Even after researching its disciplines and choosing to take the biomedical track (which was just another way to be pre-med in my eyes), I didn't understand what engineers did. Quite frankly, I didn't fully grasp the concept of engineering until the end of my first year of school (after I'd already applied!).
If I didn't know what my own major entailed while I was in school, why would other young people with a similar lack of understanding apply? This is one of several issues that, if addressed, could help to enhance the representation of African Americans in other fields. Recognizing how these unfamiliar or seemingly abstract vocations pertain to one's personal life can have a significant impact. As human beings, the things that we are passionate about are usually connected to us in some form or fashion. What is the motivation to work hard for an extended period of time toward something that doesn't seem to benefit you or the things you care about in the long run?
Organizations like Black Girls Code and the Institute for Broadening Participation strive to provide young people and students with information on how areas outside of "the norm" apply to them as individuals and members of society. These groups, and many others, help to get the word out about their respective fields of focus, but are they enough? Should educators themselves be charged with providing this sort of enlightenment as well (if they don't already)?
I recognize that the perspective from which I'm writing disregards economics, discrimination, feelings of isolation, the absence of tangible evidence of the possibility of success, and other plausible reasons that I'm sure attribute to African American underrepresentation in STEM related areas. I've also left financial motivation out of the picture, which doesn't seem to hold any ground in regard to the aforementioned study as it stands.
The fact remains that some factor, or a combination of factors, seems to deter African American students from higher-paying majors and attract them to majors that don't yield as much financial return. Understanding the usefulness of unveiling personal relevance can only get us one step closer to cultivating interest in fields within the STEM arenas. While there is much to consider, we can't overlook the importance of connecting the dots.
UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science c/o 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015; Biochemistry c/o 2012