![]() There isn’t an issue finding role models, but in connecting them. I have been aware of gender issues throughout my life and data has shown that 55% of girls aged 11-21 are looking for access to female role models. Miriam Gonzalez Duarentez, the founder of Inspiring Girls, shared the need for more role models "Growing up I wanted to be a politician, and I found it really difficult to access female role models. During the roundtable, leaders from various initiatives shared their perspectives on the impact of role models and the need to keep pushing boundaries and introducing diverse role models for girls. Barbie's presence in different guises is a powerful step, but girls need more structured support along the way. In each of these areas, the dolls open up powerful conversations for girls and their friends, parents, and teachers about how they can challenge the status quo and break into male-dominated fields. Turning dolls into role models opens up the conversations for girls about what it takes to be an astronaut, a sports star, a commentator. (Photo by Filippo Alfero/Getty Images for Polito di Torino) Getty Images for Polito di Torino speaks on stage during Festival della Tecnologia on Novemin Turin, Italy. TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 08: Chief Diversity Officer European Space Agency Ersilia Vaudo Scarpetta. With these role models, you have a toy and a context, in a way, encourages you to think about the story behind the doll." It's something straightforward, and that fits easily into a girl's life, and for girls to be able to project themselves, it is one of the stronger things you can do. So to have a toy like Barbie, it's powerful. Many elements create an invisible way that pushes girls out of STEM subjects. We see stereotypes coming from the family, how parents interact with a brother, or school with teachers. They are developing their identity, and it's a very delicate equilibrium between family and school, social context, and expectations. Ersilia Vaudo, Chief Diversity at ESA, explains why the Mattel collaboration is important to build the pipeline of women STEM "I really believe that the topic starts at elementary schools, with little girls, from six to eight years. In March 2021, ESA announced a campaign with an open call to increase candidates' diversity applying for careers with the space agency. Amongst the range of Barbie dolls breaking the mold, Mattel partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch a doll of ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetii to celebrate Barbie's sixtieth birthday in 2019. ![]() It may seem a stretch to think about dolls as role models, but in fact, we know the play and role-playing can be powerful for the development of children as they make sense of the world around them. ![]() Role models are essential to young girls before they even start school and continuing throughout their education. The power of role models doesn't start with teenage girls or young women launching their careers. Girls begin their formal education, closing down options before they even have the chance to experience learning and new opportunities. Research shows that girls have already shut down options of what they think they can do by the age of six, in response to this shocking data Barbie and Mattel have been championing The Dream Gap since 2018.ĮSA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetii with her Barbie Doll, Samantha is the only female astronaut. In 2021 despite higher rates of women graduates in OECD countries, we still face barriers to girls accessing all subjects and career options. With a host of speakers, the message was clear - we need more diversity of role models for girls and women at every stage of their education and career path. As part of IWD2021, Mattel, Barbie, and Marie Claire hosted a round-table discussing the impact of diverse role models for girls. In most cases, role models were accessible, family members, teachers, neighbors, who directly impacted building the aspirations and ambitions of girls. Our book on Championing Women Leaders demonstrated the impact of role models of every female leader we interviewed. We know role models are essential in the journey of female leaders. “You can't be what you can't see.” Role models are critical to breaking stereotypes and challenge barriers to gender equality.
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