According to the Pew Research Center, whites, Blacks and Hispanics are equally likely to say they liked both math and science classes in grades K-12. However, Blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in STEM occupations relative to their share in the U.S. workforce. 

Social interactions have been shown to influence persistence in STEM fields, but not much has been studied about how these interactions influence women of color and their scientific thinking. Drs. Melo-Jean Yap and Felisha Herrera Villarreal are examining national trends in community college STEM pathways for women of color and the dynamics in their networks to understand their academic journeys. Their work will identify factors that contribute to student retention and success for women of color and other underrepresented populations in STEM.

The National Science Foundation supports this research via NSF (DUE-1937777).

https://res-iste.sdsu.edu/index.php/women-of-color-in-stem/