In four studies, we examined the importance of gender-matched athletic role models for women. Although both women and men may benefit most from exposure to high profile athletes in their own sport, women may have fewer motivating role models available to them. When asked to nominate examples of athletes, women were less likely than men to list same-gender examples (Study 1) and athletes from their own sport (Studies 1 and 2 with 183 and 382 MTurk workers, respectively); even high-performing female athletes were less likely to nominate a same-gender role model than their male peers (Study 3 with 110 varsity athletes and 126 recreational college athletes). Women were nevertheless significantly more motivated by the same-gender and sport-matched examples (Studies 1–2). We demonstrate that same-gender role models are particularly valuable for women because they provide evidence that success is attainable, better represent a possible future self, and counteract negative gender stereotypes (Study 4 with 508 MTurk workers). Thus, although they derive special benefit from exposure to female athletic superstars, women are less likely than men to find such role models in their own sport of interest and, consequently, may be at a disadvantage relative to men. The present research illustrates the practical value of role models for women, with important implications for media and educational programming.

在四项研究中，我们研究了性别匹配的运动榜样对女性的重要性。尽管女性和男性都可能从在自己的运动中接触知名运动员中受益最大，但女性可以使用的激励榜样可能较少。当被要求提名运动员的例子时，女性比男性更不可能列出同性别的例子（研究 1）和她们自己运动的运动员（研究 1 和 2，分别有 183 和 382 名 MTurk 工人）；与男性同龄人相比，即使是表现出色的女运动员也不太可能提名同性榜样（研究 3 涉及 110 名大学运动员和 126 名休闲大学运动员）。尽管如此，女性更容易受到同性和运动匹配的例子的激励（研究 1-2）。我们证明同性榜样对女性特别有价值，因为它们提供了成功是可以实现的证据，更好地代表了未来可能的自我，并抵消了负面的性别刻板印象（研究 4 对 508 名 MTurk 工人）。因此，尽管她们从接触女性体育巨星中获得了特殊的好处，但女性在自己感兴趣的运动中找到这样的榜样的可能性低于男性，因此，相对于男性而言，她们可能处于劣势。本研究说明了女性榜样的实际价值，对媒体和教育节目具有重要意义。尽管她们从接触女性体育巨星中获得了特殊的好处，但女性在自己感兴趣的运动中找到这样的榜样的可能性低于男性，因此，相对于男性而言，她们可能处于劣势。本研究说明了女性榜样的实际价值，对媒体和教育节目具有重要意义。尽管她们从接触女性体育巨星中获得了特殊的好处，但女性在自己感兴趣的运动中找到这样的榜样的可能性低于男性，因此，相对于男性而言，她们可能处于劣势。本研究说明了女性榜样的实际价值，对媒体和教育节目具有重要意义。