CTRL + Empower: Lived Experiences of Black Women and Latinas in Computer Science at an Urban Public University

Among public universities in the New England region of the United States, the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMB) is the most ethnically diverse. Enrollment data in the Computer Science (CS) department there closely aligns with the broader demographic composition of the university, with over half of CS majors identifying as students of color, a trend that deviates from national patterns. However, the department demographics exhibit a gender disparity, with male students outnumbering female students at a ratio of five to one, consistent with both national and global trends in CS. The disparity is even higher when an intersectional lens is applied: attracting and retaining Black and Indigenous Women of Color (BIWOC) students, especially Black and Latina women, in the CS program remains a significant challenge. Here, an exploratory phenomenological case study utilizing participatory action research was conducted to examine the lived experiences of female Black and Latina students in the CS department. A focus group was convened to weigh in on various topics of discussion that BIWOC student researchers deemed important in their capacity as CS students. Thematic coding of focus group discussions was undertaken to achieve two objectives: (1) to develop actionable recommendations for improving the recruitment and retention of students of color and women, and (2) establish research experience for the female participants so they may benefit tangibly from their contribution. Key themes identified included resistance to BIWOC students, mostly in the form of questioning capabilities and other microaggressions, background mental labor in responding to or actively ignoring that resistance, navigating the world as it is versus trying to change it for the better, the need for counter-spaces to share experiences of microaggressions and develop success strategies, and potential benefits of a BIWOC research hub, open to all students but with a focus on BIWOC students.