Navigating the maze: Factors influencing the career path of Ghanaian women in STEM fields

Abstract

The paper examines the factors that influence the career trajectories of Ghanaian women in leadership roles within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Drawing on 20 in-depth interviews with women at various leadership positions in STEM fields, this paper examines the barriers to women’s leadership and the strategies employed to overcome them. Grounded in the feminist epistemology of intersectionality and structuration, the paper discusses the intersection of gendered norms, institutional cultures and individual agency in shaping women’s experiences in STEM. Self-efficacy, parental influence, female role models and mentors played significant roles in motivating participants to choose STEM. Pervasive gender biases, limited resources and mentorship opportunities, and patriarchal social expectations of caregiving continue to constrain women’s participation and leadership in STEM fields. We argue that women who successfully navigated these barriers relied on mentorship networks and inclusive work environments. Coordinated efforts emanating from the educational sector, as well as organisational and policy reforms, are critical to dismantling structural inequalities and fostering an inclusive environment for women in STEM fields. Promoting gender equity in STEM is a matter of social justice and a strategic national development imperative in Africa.