Soldiers to Scientists: Military Service, Gender, and STEM Degree Earning

Authors

Christina Steidl, University of Alabama in HuntsvilleFollow
Regina E. Werum, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Sela R. Harcey, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jacob Absalon, United States Military Academy, West Point
Alice MillerMacPhee, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

ORCID IDs

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2143-517X

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3996-3328

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World Volume 6: 1–11

https://1d0o.i1.o1r7g/71/02.1317870/23371820203914280791483713

Comments

The Author(s) 2020

Abstract

The authors use 2014–2018 data from the American Community Survey to answer two questions: To what extent is military service associated with higher rates of earning a bachelor’s degree in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field (vs. a non-STEM field)? To what extent is this relationship gendered? The findings suggest that military service is associated with higher odds of completing a STEM degree and that this association is particularly strong for female veterans. Comparison across multiple STEM definitions suggests that military service does not simply channel women into traditionally female-dominated STEM fields. Instead, the findings show the biggest boost for women earning degrees in traditionally male-dominated STEM fields. The authors situate these findings in light of extant empirical and theoretical research on gender gaps in STEM and discuss implications for policy and research.