From Sustainability To Diversity: Sustainability Framing Increases Women’s Likelihood To Apply For Leadership Positions

Authors:

Abstract: Reducing the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions is one of the most vexing issues plaguing contemporary organizations. Past research has primarily focused on identifying structural solutions to this gender gap (e.g.: affirmative action), yet “supply-side” interventions (e.g.: increasing the attractiveness of leadership positions to women) are lacking. Drawing on research on gender differences and person-environment fit, we propose sustainability framing— an organization’s explicit emphasis on their commitment to sustainable development, ethically- and socially-responsible practices, and a future-focused mindset—as an intervention that increases the likelihood of women applying to leadership positions. Results from four experiments (N = 5,162) showed that although women were generally less likely to apply to leadership positions than men, this gap was attenuated when the recruiting organization explicitly highlighted that they valued sustainability. This effect was mediated by women’s increased perceived fit with the organization.

Track: DEI

Keywords: gender gap; sustainability; leadership; recruiting; fit