FEMALE INFLUENCERS: THE ECONOMICS BEHIND THE MILLIONS

Authors

  • Stefani Milovanska-Farrington
  • Wayne Geerling
  • Dirk Mateer

Keywords:

diversity, foundation economics, Gen Z, inclusion, influencers, social media, teaching economics, TikTok, Kylie Jenner, Olivia Dunne, Olivia Rodrigo

Abstract

While women comprise nearly 60% of all undergraduate students in the United States (Causey et al., 2023), they account for less than one-third of economics majors (Buckles, 2019). There are few female role models in economics textbooks. To help address this lack of diversity and engage female students, we present teaching guides based on three of the most popular female influencers among Gen Z students. Each guide highlights an influencer's backstory and business acumen. This paper builds on the work of Geerling et al. (2024a and 2024b) who use viral YouTube and TikTok videos to engage Gen Z students on their social media platforms of choice. This paper offers a unique opportunity for educators to teach foundation-level economics concepts in a creative way while helping stimulate engagement among all students.

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Published

2024-10-04

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 2 (2024): JOURNAL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATORS

Section

Articles

License

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