THE SATISFACTION OF WOMEN IN STEM: A META-ANALYSIS
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In this meta-analysis, I examined the satisfaction levels of women in STEM careers to investigate their underrepresentation. After excluding studies for various reasons, I included twelve studies, identified through Web of Science, Sociological Source Ultimate, and PsycInfo. Eligible studies focused on graduate students, women in academic science, and industry professionals. I used the STEM definition by the National Science Foundation, encompassing fields such as math, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, psychology, political science, and economics. The eligibility criteria required studies to provide empirical reports and include measures of satisfaction for both women and men in STEM. To reflect the current landscape, the analysis is limited to publications made between the years 2000 and 2022. The analysis challenges the stereotype that women are generally less satisfied in STEM careers, suggesting that other factors contribute to their underrepresentation.