There are 2 main cognitive factors identified using social cognitive perspective:
- cognitive ability
- relative cognitive strengths

Cognitive Factors Causing Underrepresentation of Women in Math-intensive STEM Fields

Factors reflecting personal interest, mindset, goals, and values:
- career preferences
- lifestyle values
- field-specific ability beliefs
- gender-related stereotypes and biases

Motivational Factors Causing Underrepresentation of Women in Math-intensive STEM Fields

Factors influencing female decisions to opt out of math-intensive STEM fields:
- cognitive 
- motivational 

Potential factors :
- developmental period
- Biological & sociocultural 

San Jose State University

Women in the United States are underrepresented in math-intensive STEM fields: 
- mathematics and statistics
- computer and information sciences
- engineering
- physical and technological sciences
- Other scientific fields

Gender Gap in Math-Intensive STEM Fields 

Wang, M. T., & Degol, J. L. (2017). Gender Gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Current Knowledge, Implications for Practice, Policy, and Future Directions. Educational psychology review, 29(1), 119–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-015-9355-x

Gender Gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Current Knowledge, Implications for Practice, Policy, and Future Directions

Factors Causing Underrepresentation of Women in Math-Intensive STEM Fields.  

- Continue to focus on building STEM abilities
- focus more on enhancing female interest in STEM subjects
- Intervene at earlier grades to light interest
- Break down stereotypes
- Highlight the importance of hard work vs. talent
- use innovate techniques to teach STEM (i.e. storytelling)
- Communicate how STEM expertise will translate to a career
- Spotlight female role models in STEM
- Make necessary familial accommodations


Recommendations to Decrease the Gender Gap in Math-Intensive STEM Fields 

The performance differences between genders in math-intensive science fields. 

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