Exploring the Career Experiences of Immigrant Nigerian Women Engineers

The contribution of immigrant Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workers in addressing the projected shortage of U.S. STEM workforce cannot be overemphasized. Despite efforts by U.S. policy makers to provide opportunities for a positive STEM experience and diversify the STEM field by increasing the number of underrepresented minorities and women via The Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act, changes to the U.S. immigration policy towards Nigeria, including bans on immigrant visas and Diversity visas could impact recruitment of immigrant Nigerian workers in STEM. Using Kingdon’s multiple streams framework and Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory, this study explored the career experiences of immigrant Nigerian women engineers in the Washington Metropolitan area with regard to what impacts opportunities outlined in the STEM Booster Act may have had on their career success. The study also explored what impact changes in U.S. immigration policy may have had on the recruitment of immigrant Nigerian women in STEM. Using a descriptive phenomenological design, interview data were collected from 11 immigrant Nigerian women engineers. Findings from this study revealed that immigrant Nigerian women engineers experienced discrimination due to their gender, race, ethnicity and immigrant status. Findings also showed a more positive STEM experience for underrepresented minorities if the STEM Booster Act is enacted into law and an underrepresentation of immigrant Nigerians in STEM due to changes in immigration policy towards Nigeria. Positive social change may occur by introducing Diversity and Inclusion programs that could boost the number of underrepresented minorities and women in STEM