Effects of Role Models from Films on Short-Term Ratings of Intent, Interest, and Self-Assessment of Ability by High School Youth: A Study of Gender-Stereotyped Academic Subjects

Abstract

The effects of cinematic female role models on self-confidence in own abilities, interest, and academic elective intents of secondary school pupils were analyzed in two studies. In Study 1 the participants (N = 283) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Each group watched a film after which they completed a questionnaire. In Film 1 the lead female character demonstrated conventional female characteristics and was discernibly untalented in mathematics and the natural sciences, in Film 2 the lead female character did not exhibit conventional female characteristics and was gifted in mathematics and the natural sciences, and in Film 3 the lead female character was typically female and gifted in mathematics and the natural sciences. Film 3, in which the lead female character not only contradicted the stereotype of women not being gifted at mathematics and the natural sciences but also should not have elicited subtyping processes, turned out to be effective among girls with High prior interest and boys in general. In contrast, this film had unexpected effects among girls with Low prior interest. Instead of showing, as expected, merely weaker effects than those found for the other groups, this role model even had a deterrent effect on girls with Low prior interest. In Study 2 (N = 55) an investigation assessed whether Film 3 could exercise a similarly positive effect on female pupils with Low prior interest were a female role model to depict constructive coping with difficulties in mathematics and the natural sciences prior to the presentation of the film. Results show this is possible.

Role models' influence on smoking reduction

“…This study also extends on findings investigating the effectiveness of role model influence in the domains of academics (Lockwood, 2006;Zirkel, 2002;Marx & Roman, 2002;McIntyre et al, 2005;McIntyre et al, 2003), psychological well-being (Yancey et al, 2009;Ziegler & Stoeger, 2008), but especially health (Lankford et al, 2003;.…”

“…Research indicates that role models can motivate individuals to strive for academic and occupational success (Lockwood, 2006;Zirkel, 2002), increase self-esteem and self-efficacy (Yancey, Siegel, & McDaniel, 2009;Ziegler & Stoeger, 2008), and boost performance on a cognitive task by alleviating the adverse effects of stereotype threat (Marx and Roman, 2002;McIntyre et al, 2005;McIntyre, Paulson, & Lord, 2003). Most importantly, role models have also been used effectively to increase behavioral intentions in activities related to improving health (Lankford et al, 2003;Lockwood, Chasteen, & Wong, 2005;Lockwood, Wong, McShane, & Dolderman, 2005).…”

Do sexist organizational cultures create the Queen Bee?

“…In order for female managers to function as inspirational role models, their female subordinates need to be able to identify with them and feel similar to them (Ensher & Murphy, 1997; Lockwood, 2006). This is less likely to happen when female managers actively distance themselves from other women and present themselves in a masculine way (Ziegler & Stoeger, 2008). As a consequence, female employees who are managed by Queen Bees are less likely to find role models to show them how to achieve their ambitions.…”

The Impact of Role Models on Women's Self-Selection in Competitive Environments

“…In addition, subtyping may impede the impact of role models on women with low prior performance in math. According to this concept, members of a group may view an individual that disconfirms stereotypes of that group as being an exception from the rule and place them in a separate category (Richards and Hewstone (2001), Ziegler and Stoeger (2008)). Moreover, a lack of perceived attainability may lead subjects to become intimidated by dissimilar role models such that they cannot benefit as much from the role model as subjects with higher perceived attainability (Marx and Ko (2012), Lockwood and Kunda (1997)).…”