Behind the “success story”: exploring the experiences of a woman mathematics major

In Canada, women are a minority in university mathematics programmes, and this situation has not improved in the past several years. To examine this situation, research was conducted to investigate the experiences of women who might be considered “success stories” in mathematics—those who persevered beyond their initial years of university study—to understand the supports and challenges that they faced. Elise, a master’s student in mathematics, participated in this study. Although by external standards Elise was a very successful student and perhaps even a “model” of a successful woman in this field, her interview provided evidence that she was very anxious and nervous, and felt extreme pressure to succeed and be “perfect”. By examining Elise’s experiences, a better understanding of the tension between Elise’s outward success and internal anxieties can be garnered. Additionally, a re-examination of traditional definitions of women’s success in fields dominated by men is provided. We also discuss considerations that should be taken into account when interacting with high-achieving students.