Mujeres en STEM: Strategies for Navigating the Chilly Climate y Entre Fronteras

Abstract In this chapter Mujerista mentorship models (e.g., othermothering, madrinas, comadre mentoring, luminarias) and Latinx critical theory (LatCrit) are drawn upon to discuss how best to provide mentoring experiences for Latinas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, following the belief that Mujerista/feminist models are especially relevant to understanding and mentoring Latinas in the sciences who face chronic and systemic underestimation of their intelligence, skills, and competence. Findings from Women and the Challenges of STEM Professions: Thriving in a Chilly Climate (Arredondo et al., 2022) are incorporated to illustrate the potential applications of these mentoring models. A qualitative method based on feminist psychology was used to highlight the unique voices of women participants. The interviews revealed the following themes for Latinas and other women in STEM fields: (1) finding support, (2) managing the balance challenge for women who are parents, (3) managing unhealthy work environments, (4) navigating structural and systemic barriers, and (5) enhancing self‑advocacy skills. Findings indicated that Latina participants were often oriented toward feminist and Mujerista practices, although they had not formally studied these theories and models. The chapter concludes by providing recommendations first to Latina graduate students and early career professionals (ECP) for finding and creating support systems, per Mujerista frameworks. Recommendations for deans, department chairs, and higher education administrators on best practices for providing culturally responsive mentorship programs centered on Latina worldviews are also offered. Finally, recommendations are provided for mental health concerns that Latinas and other women in STEM may confront as often as the singular woman graduate student or professor.