Why Overqualification and Leadership Matter for Women in STEM

Ever wondered how overqualification affects women in the STEM fields? A recent study delved into this, focusing on career anxiety and decision-making among women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The goal? To understand how feeling overqualified impacts their careers. They surveyed a whopping 1, 045 women, splitting them between educational settings and the industry. Interestingly, the study found that when women in STEM felt overqualified, their career identity grew stronger. This strong identity was linked to lower career anxiety and better decision-making. In simple terms, the more women felt they were overqualified, the more confident they were in their career paths.But there's a twist. This career identity acted as a bridge between feeling overqualified and experiencing less anxiety and making better decisions. Leadership support also played a crucial role, influencing this entire process. Strong leadership support boosted these positive effects. The study used a software called AMOS-24 to analyze the data. It's important to note that this research has significant implications for both understanding and promoting gender equality in STEM.