Why are role models necessary?

Article by 50a50

Despite the strides achieved in recent decades toward gender equality, women still have fewer rights and opportunities than men worldwide. Moreover, although we are half of the world’s population, we are indeed grossly underrepresented in decision-making positions.

Recent research has evidenced that role models bring several benefits to the development of young women, as not only normalize the presence of women in all domains but also break down the gender biases, stereotypes, and institutional barriers that we have faced since childhood.

As Dr. Marie Warrell argued, role models have three major benefits for women; first, they represent and broaden what is possible. Second, female role models encourage women to set greater and more ambitious goals. Finally, they exhibit the attitudes and behaviors of how to succeed (Warrell, 2020).

What does the data say?

Although data reveals slow progress in gender equality in different fields, we are still underrepresented in the principal sectors of society. Taking 2020 research on UN Women, we can note this underrepresentation.

Despite the big increase of women in politics in the last 25 years, we continue to be underrepresented in the highest levels of politics. For instance, in 2020 just 24.9% of parliamentarians globally were women.

Furthermore, just under 7% of the 500 chief executives of the highest-grossing companies are female, and only 53 women have won the Nobel Prize since 1901 (900 winners in total). Moreover, just under 4% of chefs with three Michelin stars are women.

This demonstrates the urgent need for representation in every field of society because as Dr. Nina Ansary stated in Anonymous is a Woman, “it’s hard to be what we cannot see” (Ansary, 2020).

Successful women you may not know

Some female role models that have showed us the path are:

ROSALIND FRANKLIN

Watson and Crick are two names familiar to many, as they were the scientists who discovered DNA. What many people do not know, however, is that their discoveries would have been impossible without the studies of Franklin, who was never given recognition for her contributions. Thus, they won the Nobel Prize and Rosalind Franklin was forgotten by most people. She is one of the most brilliant scientists of the 20^th century.

“Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.”

MALALA YOUSAFZAI

Malala Yousafzai became an international symbol of the fight for girls’ education after she was shot in 2012 for opposing Taliban restrictions on women’s schooling in her home country, Pakistan.

At age 17, she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting girls’ access to education.

“I raise up my voice – not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.”

CLARA CAMPOAMOR

Clara Campoamor was a Spanish writer, lawyer, and politician, known for her work as an advocate for women’s rights, especially women’s suffrage in Spain.

She not only won the right to vote for Spanish women but also defended the right to abortion and divorce, among others.

“I have worked so that men in this country find women everywhere. Not just where they go to look for them.”

KATHRINE SWITZER

When Kathrine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon as the first official woman, she had to fend off an angry man.

Gibb decided to take legal action when the Boston Athletic Association refused to give her a bib in 1966 because women were “not biologically capable” of running large distances. She joined the race undetected, ran alongside the men, and beat half of them to the finish line in 3 hours and 21 minutes.

“I was more fascinated with what women could do if they only had the chance.”

Our commitment to female representation

As a feminist initiative fighting for equality of rights and opportunities between men and women, OTBT project has a great commitment to the visibility and representation of women in our societies. This is the reason why we will offer training courses and mentoring circles led by women change makers.

A change maker is someone who works where positive change happens, seeking to create a permanent impact. From “Off the Beaten Track” project, we have chosen some women as change makers and role models, who will share their knowledge and experience to help other women to reach their goals.

In the framework of this Erasmus+ project, we will have the opportunity to work hand in hand with professionals such as Silvia Bueso, an expert in empowerment and mentoring, Giovanna Manzi, CEO of BW Italy, and Lenka Hlinkova, an expert in women empowerment and Digital and CCIs.

These women will not only share their knowledge and experience, but they will also be role models for those who are listening, as they have had to struggle hard to make a place for themselves in a male-led world.

In conclusion, the lack of role models has had a huge negative impact on the development of women generation after generation, and even though many efforts are being made by associations like 50a50 to change the situation, under-representation is still a reality.

Our commitment goes beyond this: not only do we fight for more female role models, but we also claim that women should have the same opportunities and recognition as men.