Lena Barrantes, Karla Retana Hernández, Beatriz Gamboa Sánchez, Sileny Mena Gómez, Karla Retana Hernández
Although STEM careers are currently in high demand, gender inequality experienced by women in Latin America is still evident. The Brunca Region of Costa Rica is an example of this. The Universidad Nacional Sede Regional Brunca has a social commitment to addressing this inequality. A mixed convergent-parallel study was conducted, collecting quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously to understand the participation of young women in STEM careers in the region. Qualitative analysis provided an in-depth understanding of the contextual factors of each of the themes. It was decided to use statistical data to augment and support detailed information on the participants' experiences collected during the qualitative process. The results reflect, on the one hand, the limited opportunities for participation due to national and international policies that do not meet the specific needs of this population. On the other hand, they reflect the low expectations of young women's families and individuals due to pressures that reinforce the traditional role of women in rural areas. Thus, high self-imposed performance standards and the need for early education that emphasizes the development of social-emotional skills are issues that must be addressed intentionally in order to increase opportunities for young women in STEM careers.