Shifting from a female-dominated profession: The perceptions and experiences of male students in communication sciences and disorders

Introduction: A longstanding aim of the American Speech and Hearing Association is to diversify professional representation. Despite their efforts, a prevalent disparity in male representation persists. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of males currently enrolled in a speech-language pathology (SLP) program to better understand barriers to entering the field and identify ways to increase the number of males practicing as speech-language pathologists.

Method: Twenty-one male students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate SLP program in the United States participated in four focus group discussions. The 60 minute semi-structured interviews held virtually were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed thematically from an experiential orientation using an inductive approach grounded in the data to explore male experiences and perspectives as an underrepresented student in the program.

Results: The analysis generated three themes: (1) Harnessing Heterogeneity, (2) Building Community and a Supportive Infrastructure, and (3) Infectious Attitudes and Perception. The experiences highlight the strengths and shortcomings of the profession and reveal the cultural landscape.

Conclusions: The findings reinforce the need for outreach efforts to increase awareness of the profession and highlight the importance of mentoring programs to provide the support and guidance needed for success.