Girls can too : a qualitative single holistic case study exploring manufacturing as a career choice for recent high school female graduates in Central Louisiana.

The manufacturing industry is crucial to the United States economy, constituting more than 10% of the gross domestic product (National Association of Manufacturing [NAM], 2022). However, the sector faces challenges such as a shortage of skilled labor and underrepresentation of women, which threaten its sustainability (NAM, 2023). Various researchers advocate for solutions like upskilling existing workers, improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) proficiency, enhancing recruitment strategies, and bridging gender gaps to address these issues (Combs, 2019; Faitar & Faitar, 2013c; Manufacturing Institute [MI], 2022a; Skevi et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2017). To investigate the skill and gender gaps in manufacturing careers, I conducted a qualitative single holistic case study grounded in social cognitive career theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994) with five female high school graduates. I explored the cultural and cognitive factors that impacted the participants' career choices and perceptions of the manufacturing industry using online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Using a thematic analysis, I uncovered two thematic statements associated with cultural factors, four thematic statements associated with cognitive factors, and two thematic statements associated with perspectives of the manufacturing industry. Regarding cultural influences, participants emphasized the crucial role of support and encouragement from parents and teachers in shaping their career aspirations. Participants highlighted the negative impact of gender stereotypes on their perception of manufacturing careers. For cognitive factors, participants expressed self-efficacy in succeeding in manufacturing, emphasized the importance of teamwork and career growth expectations, challenged gender stereotypes, and advocated for workplace equality and inclusion. Participants' perspectives on the manufacturing industry revealed gender disparities but they believed in their ability to succeed in these careers. These findings provide insights into the decision-making processes of young females and offer recommendations for females and key collaborators, including educational institutions, parents, teachers, industry employers, policymakers, and manufacturing associations. Understanding these factors can help develop targeted strategies to attract and retain skilled workers, fostering a more diverse and sustainable manufacturing workforce.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Bailey, Donna P., 1967-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• O'Connor Marsano, Erin.

• Gender disparities.
• Gender gap.
• Gender stereotyping.
• Manufacturing.
• Self-efficacy.
• Skills gaps.
• Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/13202

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/13202