ABSTRACT
Like a mechanical ratchet, an equity ratchet drives us forward, which would advance equity in STEM and not permit us to slip backwards. Our nation’s long recognition of the existential threat and moral failure signaled by the lack of diversity in STEM has resulted in the creation of a plethora of “diversity” programs over the past several decades (e.g., summer bridge, special advising, remedial courses, targeted summer research programs, “minority” supplements to research grants). Each intervention aims to increase the representation in STEM of Persons Excluded because of Ethnicity or Race. The goal of diversity is a good one, but the methods by which we try to achieve this noble goal are misplaced. Despite the billions of dollars and millions of person-hours invested in these interventions, there has been little or no progress in closing the racialized STEM education completion gap. It is time to change our approach, pivoting from a diversity-only mindset to one that begins with equity, changing the culture of STEM so that its learning environment is one in which everyone feels they belong and the system provides resources for them to be successful. This chapter offers suggestions on how to create equity ratchets in STEM education.
