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The impact of role models on women's self-selection in competitive environments

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Listed:
  • Meier, Kristina
  • Niessen-Ruenzi, Alexandra
  • Ruenzi, Stefan

Abstract

We show that female role models increase women's willingness to compete. As in Niederle and Vesterlund (2007), we find that women are less willing to enter a tournament than men, although there are no gender differences in performance. However, the gender gap in tournament entry disappears if subjects are exposed to a competitive female role model. Results are stronger for the best performing women who seem to be particularly encouraged by female role models. Female role models also mitigate gender stereotype threats and lead to higher self-confidence among women. By contrast, we find that competitive male role models seem to intimidate female subjects and increase the gender gap in tournament entry even further. Our results have implications for the socio-political debate on how the fraction of women in top management positions can be increased.

Suggested Citation

  • Meier, Kristina & Niessen-Ruenzi, Alexandra & Ruenzi, Stefan, 2018. "The impact of role models on women's self-selection in competitive environments," VfS Annual Conference 2018 (Freiburg, Breisgau): Digital Economy 181589, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc18:181589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Competition; Role Models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments

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