Women Help Women Reach for More In Life

May 23, 2018 /3BL Media/  - ‘Having it all’ is a concept that women have been discussing and aspiring to attain for nearly 40 years. Still, the conversation continues because no one has determined what having “it all” actually means. After decades of debate, women today are reshaping the definition. And female relationships are proving to be a powerful force.

A new social experiment from Lean Cuisine® asked women to define their ‘ideal life’ and explored how they made decisions alone versus in the presence of other women (i.e. - friends, family members and colleagues). The results of the ItAll social experiment showed that 89 percent of women set more ambitious goals in the presence of other women, and 77 percent chose greater aspirations in the aspects of life they deemed most important. The bottom line – women helped each other set a higher bar when striving for ‘her all.’

Despite societal stereotypes suggesting female relationships encourage anxiety, pressure and judgment, the ItAll social experiment demonstrated the impact women can have on other women as an engine for ambition.

“We rarely talk about the positive power of female relationships that we saw firsthand in the ItAll experiment,” says Dr. Emily Balcetis, Associate Professor of Psychology at New York University. “Women can encourage each other to shoot for more where it matters most, rather than working to accomplish something that society says we should. We have a truly unique way to inspire each other to reach our own greatest potential.”

In collaboration with Lean Cuisine, Dr. Balcetis designed this first-of-its-kind social experiment for 18 participants. To establish a baseline, participants were individually surveyed about what they want in life through a questionnaire. They were asked questions about their ideal family life, career, finances, personal enrichment, health & wellness, education and more.

Weeks later, participants were invited to shop at the ItAll store where items on the shelves mimicked the initial survey – salary ranges, types of careers, number of children, etc. In the store, however, each woman brought with them familiar, influential women in their life.

As they made their way through the store, the participants selected very different answers about their personal life ambitions. Participants declared a desire for higher salaries, chose to work more hours, wanted to spend more time with friends and be more involved with children.

“What was most compelling in this experiment was how women close to us can help to relieve the societal pressure to ‘have it all,’ and instead focus each other to achieve ‘her all,’” says Dr. Balcetis. “In the ItAll store, we saw women helping other women identify their truest versions of themselves and encouraging them to strike for higher potential.”

SPARKING A NEW DIALOGUE ON FEMALE AMBITION

Following the eye-opening results of the ItAll store, Lean Cuisine wants to create a new dialogue that ensures every woman can aspire not to ‘it all,’ but to the very best version of ‘her all.’ Earlier this year, the brand launched the L.E.A.N. Fund (Lend, Empower, Achieve, Nurture), which helps lower income women thrive as entrepreneurs by providing financial support and mentorship to females who need it most.

“Lean Cuisine has always set out to feed the greatness in women and we’re increasing our actions to explore how we can further support their pursuits,” says Rebecca Kvam, Lean CuisineCommunications Marketing Manager. “The ItAll store ignited a new candid, meaningful conversation between women about what they truly want for their lives, and we want to help create a future in which women’s impact on each other’s ambition is more positive than ever before.”

 For more information on Lean Cuisine's ItAll social experiment visit youtube.com/leancuisine.

About Social Experiment

Eighteen female participants were administered a 30-question electronic survey to determine how they would define their ideal life. They were asked multiple-choice questions about family life, career, finances, personal enrichment, health & wellness, education and more. Approximately 14 days later, they attended the ItAll store experience with their friends, family or colleagues that brought the survey to life through items available on the shelf that represented the survey options. The ItAll store was open on Friday, April 6 2018 and located at 76 Wooster Street New York, NY 10012. Each participant’s selections were analyzed to see where changes occurred from the initial survey to the in-store experience. The analysis compared both individual and group results to see where their selections changed across core topic areas and questions, contrasted with qualitative findings that were shared during the screening process.

About Lean Cuisine

A leader in frozen prepared dishes, Lean Cuisine is dedicated to feeding the greatness in every woman with delicious, satisfying and convenient meals. With over 90 frozen entrée options, each Lean Cuisine recipe is developed with women’s dietary preferences in mind - from non-GMO to gluten-free to vegan and high fiber. Our nutritionists work alongside our culinary team to create flavorful solutions that thoughtfully pair ingredients together. A Nestlé USA brand, Lean Cuisinehas been crafting on-trend recipes to fuel women for more than 35 years. For product news and information, visit LeanCuisine.com. Find Lean Cuisine on social media at Facebook.com/LeanCuisine, Instagram.com/leancuisine and on Twitter at @Lean Cuisine.

Nestlé USA

Named among “The World’s Most Admired Food Companies” in Fortune magazine for twenty consecutive years, Nestlé USA is committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. By providing choices, from nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine to baking traditions with Nestlé Toll House, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverages that make good living possible. With 2016 sales of $9.7 billion, Nestlé USA is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company — with 2016 sales of $91 billion.