In a global context where gender issues are at the center of societal and political debates, ESSEC Business School hosted the Gender Research Workshop at its Cergy campus. Titled Where Should the Gender Agenda Go in a Changing World?, the event brought together researchers from various disciplines to explore contemporary gender-related issues through the lens of academic research.
Understanding Gender to Better Shape the World
Key Takeaways from the Gender Research Workshop on March 4, 2025
6.3.2025
Addressing Today’s Challenges
The event opened with remarks from Ha Hoang, Dean of Research at ESSEC, who emphasized the importance of gender studies in an evolving world. The gender agenda is no longer just about parity or inclusion—it is a cross-cutting issue that influences economic, social, and cultural dynamics.
Laurent Bibard, Professor in ESSEC’s Management Department, delivered the first presentation based on his book. He highlighted the growing politicization of gender issues in the geopolitical landscape, pointing to debates around sexual minorities and statements from influential leaders as examples of how these topics are being shaped by broader societal forcesand suggested an agenda for counterbalancing these forces through research and discussion.
Data and Facts: Understanding Gender’s Economic Impact
Angela Sutan, Associate Professor in the Public & Private Policy Department at ESSEC, presented experiments on the selection of women in companies. Her central question was: Is it easier to choose a woman when she is visible? Her research takes place in a context where women still hold less than 30% of executive positions in France, according to INSEE. One of her key findings is that the composition of selection committees directly influences the proportion of women hired. When recruiters are women, 37% of hires are mixed-gender, compared to just 13% when the selection is made by all-male teams.
Another aspect of her study examined how women are eliminated from selection processes. Using avatars to simulate applications and observe the formation of corporate boards, Angela Sutan highlighted a troubling trend: women are the first to be excluded from selection processes. These findings emphasize the need to understand selection dynamics in order to identify ways to improve female representation in leadership positions.
Isabelle Solal, Assistant Professor in the Management Department at ESSEC, analyzed the impact of leaders' gender on employee salaries. Using data from Portugal, she found that the highest salaries, particularly those of women, tend to be lower in companies led by female executives. Her results raise critical questions about perceptions and behaviors related to pay and leadership, paving the way for further research. While female leadership is often associated with more employee-friendly policies, this correlation does not necessarily lead to reduced gender pay gaps. These findings challenge assumptions about the feminization of executive roles and call for a deeper exploration of employer-employee dynamics and perceptions that shape these practices. The study underscores the central role of executives in setting wages, but also raises the question of employees’ own preferences and behaviors in shaping wage outcomes.
Science and Commitment: Women’s Place in Mathematics
The workshop also featured Constanza Rojas-Molina, Associate Professor of Mathematics at CY Cergy Paris University. A member of the Association of Women in Mathematical Physics, she shared her experiences and the initiatives she leads to make mathematics more appealing to young women. In France, only 17% of mathematics researchers are women, according to CNRS. Her presentation emphasized the importance of making scientific careers more inclusive and visible.
Originally from Chile and from a modest background, Constanza Rojas-Molina described her challenging academic journey, highlighting the obstacles women face in scientific fields. She spoke about the pressure to conform to her professional environment’s expectations, even going so far as to hide her talent for illustration out of fear of losing credibility among colleagues. Through her involvement in initiatives like the Young Women Academy in Germany and the International Women in Mathematics Day, she strives to reverse these trends. By using tools such as graphic recording and sketchnoting, she aims to make mathematics more accessible and engaging.
Finally, she addressed the unique dilemmas faced by women in academia, particularly the challenge of balancing a scientific career with family life. Despite these difficulties, she stressed the importance of institutional support and the joy of teaching as key factors in encouraging more women to pursue careers in mathematics.
A Roundtable to Shape the Future
The event concluded with a roundtable discussion moderated by Junko Takagi, Professor at ESSEC, allowing speakers and attendees to exchange ideas on the continuing role played by gender research, and the importance of encouraging a gender perspective to understand organizational and institutional phenomena. How can hiring and pay structures become more equitable? What strategies can encourage more women to pursue careers in science and leadership?
Beyond highlighting the intellectual contributions of women in research, the workshop served as a reminder that gender issues are not limited to women’s studies, and that they impact society as a whole men, women and other genders. The gender lens contributes to a more complex and enriching understanding of phenomena. In an increasingly uncertain and changing environment, encouraging complex and nuanced perspectives and empathy is more important than ever before. It is an ongoing challenge that continues to reshape our models and practices in an ever-evolving world.
