![]() When you choose role models, include ones that are 1 or 2 steps ahead of your audience. They look at the successful person, and it is so far away from their own experience that they can’t imagine themselves in that position. It turns out that inviting highly successful female speakers can sometimes have the wrong impact it discourages women. Over the years I have seen clients work with role models, seen many women being picked as role models and have even been one myself at some point. ![]() How to get role models in gender diversity right ![]() In the same study in India mentioned before they found that after seeing a minimum of two female chiefs, parents were more likely to want their daughter to study past secondary school. When others see more women doing those jobs, these stories change. It makes it harder to keep on believing you will actually get to the finish line. It’s like when you are running a marathon and instead of getting encouragement and people cheering you on, you get people doubting your choices and pointing out how hard it is the run a marathon. Female engineers regularly hear discouraging remarks at parties such as, ‘Gosh, an engineer, that is unusual?’ and ‘I am sure that is difficult’. Women are often discouraged by others to follow a particular track. Peers and parents see different possibilities In a study during a women’s leadership project in India, they found that men that had been exposed to a minimum of two female village leaders were more likely to vote for them. When men see women do it, they know it’s possible. When I was at university, a male friend of mine used to say, ‘If women were really that good at electrotechnical engineering, then why do I not see them taking it?’ It’s that simple. Regardless of how many scientific studies are cited, it’s hard for men to imagine women would be good CEO’s if they don’t see many of them. Retention of junior-level female employees is highly correlated with the number of female supervisors. Female students are more likely to choose a major in STEM when they are assigned a female professor instead of a male one. In addition, when they see women in leadership positions they are more likely to speak up themselves. When women see other women in roles they find it easier to imagine themselves in those roles and are more likely to put themselves forward. Typically people get inspired to do something when they see others like them do it. Studies* (listed below) show that role models are an incredibly effective way to encourage women to make different choices.Their effect is based on the concept ‘Seeing is believing’, and interestingly this works at multiple levels. ![]() Let me show you why role models really can have a big impact on gender diversity and what you need to do to get the most impact from them. ![]()
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