Towards a community of care: Counterspaces for women in sTem education

Despite significant research and intervention efforts there remain significant disparities with the retention of women and women of colour in postsecondary STEM programs. These programs are often inhospitable to women. STEM counterspaces are emerging as important communal spaces that support women and in their identity development in STEM. Counterspaces are community-driven, safe spaces that nurture a sense of belonging through strategies that are validating for intersectional identity development. In this paper, we review existing research about counterspaces that support women and women of colour in STEM. and use the framework of Feminine Ethics of Care to analyze these spaces. Much of the literature on counterspaces covers STEM in general, we therefore make connections to how counterspaces can be applied to ICT education in particular. We conclude the paper with recommendations for ICT education.