UWLP Publishes Research on Leadership, STEM, Male Allyship

Researchers from the Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline of public perceptions of the awareness, understanding, and attitudes regarding the challenges Utah women and girls face. The survey, conducted in the fall of 2023, focused on five areas: education, community engagement, safety and security, health and well-being, and the workplace. 

In October and November 2023, the UWLP collected data from 3,505 Utahns ages 18 and older. The 80-question survey was based on existing literature and survey instruments, guidance from experts, and baseline data needed by leaders of A Bolder Way Forward (BWF). This initiative invites Utahns to break down the barriers that keep women and girls from thriving.

Research summaries were recently released on Leadership Development, STEM Fields, and Male Allyship. The summaries, authored by Susan R. Madsen, founder and director of UWLP, are used to set goals and metrics for a BWF. Below are highlights of each research summary.

Leadership Development

A goal for A Bolder Way Forward is to have more women serve in leadership roles in all domains, as well as helping people in all sectors identify and implement best practices on how to advance and support women.

• Women’s agreement levels were significantly higher than men’s with the statement, “I aspire to be a leader.”
• With the statement “Others consider me a leader,” many people were either neutral or somewhat agreed, while those with higher education and children in the home had stronger agreement.
• Many Utahns were not aware of opportunities and resources to help them develop leadership skills, but those with higher incomes and education—and those who lived in Cache, Summit/Wasatch, Iron, Utah, and Washington Counties—agreed the most that they were aware of such resources and opportunities.
• Of special interest, only 8.8% of respondents believe Utahns are interested in understanding and confronting their biases, and an even lower percentage (6.8%) believe Utahns are aware of their own biases.

“It is critical that leadership development programs and related opportunities be carefully designed based on the latest research and theory,” said Madsen. “Rigorously designed opportunities will move the needle much more effectively than those that are not.”

STEM Fields

Nationally, 27% of STEM workers are women, compared to 21% in Utah. This research summary provides insight that can help improve STEM opportunities for girls and women.

• There was strong agreement (66.7% strongly agree and 21.8% agree) that women can be successful in STEM jobs in Utah, with women’s agreement being significantly stronger than men’s.
• In response to the statement, “We don’t need more women in STEM fields in Utah,” 63.9% strongly disagreed and 20% disagreed.
• In response to the statement, “STEM jobs are more difficult than jobs in other industries in Utah,” 72.9% disagreed at some level or neither agreed nor disagreed.

These findings are somewhat encouraging. “Since Utah has a plethora of STEM-focus companies, everything from raising women’s STEM career aspiration to having women fill top leadership roles will strengthen the Utah economy,” Madsen said. “More importantly, such increases will provide Utah women with more career opportunities to be involved in rewarding and high-paying employment that will help women support themselves and their families.”

Male Allyship

For girls and women to thrive, it is critical that more Utah men become “male allies,” and new data are critical to enhancing and understanding how men can more actively embrace their role as allies.

• Overall, 62.9% disagreed at same level or were neutral about the statement, “Men in Utah are supportive of women becoming leaders.”
• Only 28.5% agreed at some level that men in Utah are engaged in efforts to have more women in leadership roles.
• 1% selected “neither agree nor disagree” when presented with the statement, “Utah men are interested in supporting women.” Interestingly, Latter-day Saints had stronger agreement than all other religious affiliations, and the more religiously active respondents had higher agreement.
• In response to the statement, “There are opportunities and resources available to help Utah men become better allies for women,” most people disagreed at some level, with those with higher education, nonparents, and women having less agreement.

“The need to implement strategies that create and strengthen male allies is vital. A Bolder Way Forward aims to make Utah a place where more women and girls can thrive in any setting, and developing male allies is a critical component.”

Conclusion

For the eighth year in a row, WalletHub has named Utah as the worst state in the nation for women’s equality. Its recent ranking of the Best and Worst States for Women has Utah ranked at 35. The overarching of A Bolder Way Forward is to help more Utah girls, women, and families thrive. “When we strengthen the impact of Utah girls and women, we strengthen everyone,” said Madsen.

View the full research summaries here.