To Thine Own Self Be True: A New Model of Female Talent Development

Abstract

This article describes an innovative model of female talent development based upon the life experiences of gifted women from a wide variety of backgrounds and talent domains. The model was synthesized from original studies contributed by more than 20 scholars, psychologists, and educators, known collectively as Remarkable Women: Perspectives on Female Talent Development (Arnold, Noble, & Subotnik, 1996). Key issues addressed by this model are the personal, professional, and cultural challenges common to gifted females as well as strategies for coping with then, spheres of influence and achievement to which gifted women aspire, and ways to help gifted women and girls identify and actualize their talents and gifts.

Going for Gold: Understanding Talent Development Through the Lived Experiences of US Female Olympians

“…Individual traits or personal characteristics are recognized as primary components in both models of talent development (Noble et al 1999;Reis 1995). These traits may include above average ability or special talent, determination, motivation, patience, creativity, and risk taking (Reis 1995).…”

“…Risk taking was also evident as these women possessed a willingness to take risks and engage in tasks that others may not have had the courage to attempt (Reis 1995). Resilience was also evident as a set of protective factors that allowed these women to cultivate a strong sense of self and a fundamental understanding of their values and needs in the face of adverse circumstances or obstacles (Noble et al 1999). Gifted women learned to resist internalizing messages about female inferiority, and recognized external sexism and discrimination in order to fully develop their talents (Noble 1994).…”

“…Demographic traits (i.e., race, class, and sexual orientation) along with individual traits (i.e., determination, motivation, and resilience) affect women's interaction with opportunities and talent domains and their ability to express their talents (Noble et al 1999). Along with race and class traits, civil and legal rights affect talented women.…”

“…Within the domain of athletic talent development research, little research has focused on the unique experiences of female athletes, and the processes of development of athletic talent. Research about gifted women has provided conceptual models to explain the process by which women develop their talents Noble et al 1999;Reis 1995), and while these researchers have noted that these models of talent development for gifted women could be applied to elite female athletes; they have not been directly examined. These theoretical frameworks can help to better inform our understanding of athletic talent development of women.…”

“…Qualitative research methods have been used to understand talent development in athletics and other professional domains (Durand-Bush and Salmela 2002;Gould et al 2002;Greenleaf et al 2001;Noble et al 1999;Pensgaard and Duda 2002;Reis 1995). Unique to other work that has explored athletic talent development, this research project approached the understanding of female athletic talent development by using phenomenological inquiry, through in-depth interviewing, to better understand how the women in this project experienced the development of their athletic talent to reach the Olympic level.…”