19-Feb-10 2:00 AM CST

Survey: Women in Energy Stereotyping

New figures released by Aquitude, reveal that stereotyping can have an implicit and highly
negative impact on the way businesses are run.   Study findings are based on Gulf Research study presented at Women's Global Leadership Conference for Energy and Technology.

The objective of the study was to understand whether women face specific stereotyping in
careers in male‐dominated fields. The study asked women to discuss whether stereotyping had
impacted them personally. Respondents from a wide variety of roles and levels in the energy
industry took part.

69% of those surveyed revealed that they had experienced some kind of stereotyping as a
woman in a male-dominated culture.

Christina Ioannidis, CEO of Aquitude commented on the survey findings:

“This research has highlighted that stereotyping is a complex issue. A knee‐jerk reaction
by companies to offer Diversity or Sensitivity training is not enough.

We have learnt from the companies we work with that the number one activity which
needs to happen is to break gender stereotypes. This involves a concerted effort for
culture change so that individual values and differences are embraced across the
organisation.

Giving women and other minority groups a voice, a sense of appreciation for the
difference in perspective and the invaluable source of innovation that they inherently
bring to the table is a source of competitive advantage that needs to be harnessed in
today’s challenging economic climate”.

The research findings show that there are several types of stereotyping. These include people
making assumptions based on age, ambition, role and the differences between the way the
genders communicate.

Full survey results can be downloaded at
http://www.aquitude.com/wp‐content/uploads/2010/02/Aquitude‐Survey‐Results.pdf

Gulf Research study findings at:link

For additional information on this article, please contact:

John McKeever

281-759-3600 x1022

Source: Christina Ioannidis

http://www.aquitude.com