The Year of the Influential Woman

Mary Clare Hunt — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:13:41 -0600

Watch for it, 2008 is quickly becoming the Year of the Planet, which also makes it the Year of the Influential Woman. The indicators are in the "research" being conducted to see how women differ from the general population when it comes to "green" issues.

I've been watching these trends for the past 5 years. First, corporations finally figured out through "research" that women buy more stuff than men. Then green issues started surveying citizens at large and found that the more aware they were on the green issues, the more they cared about what they purchased or didn't purchase. Now they are putting 2 & 2 together and found that, hummm, women buy stuff and run more homes and therefore maybe they should market their green stuff to them.

Say it with me - Duhhhhhhh. Go Figure.

This week "research" out of the University of Granada showed that housewives recycle more than college students and also care more about the environment. It makes me want to scream on a very primal level. Is there a mother out there who hasn't told her kids to take out the trash?

By the way, why didn't they reseach househusbands compared to college kids? I'm sure they would have also received high marks. They didn't because they're aren't enough of them to make a whit of difference in eco-land. Follow the money, follow the influence on the next generation.

Guess what else they are "researching," that women are more social than men. Good grief. I remember the first year of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association and learning that NO ONE was measuring how women spread the word vs.men. Why not? I sat next to the author of "The Influentials" and asked him if their group did any research based on gender breakouts. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "No" implying that it was impossible to do in a social media world. I agree it's hard, but it's not impossible. Golly, they could start with the BlogHer base. Go Figure.

What got WOMMA started on gender breakout WOM? First Terri Whitesel and I lobbied for it for a year and then she, Yvonne DiVita and a very nice guy lead a panel on the concept that women talk to each other differently.

In 2008, the power of money and influence has shifted. The proof of it is that companies are conducting market research to find out how you think on products, the environment, and social issues. Research is either with ALL CITIZENS or WOMEN CONSUMERS.

Need another reason? CERES.org represents investors who control over $4 TRILLION in business. They want to invest in only things that will make money and be green at the same time. They need your help to move the market. This affects your retirement fund as well as day-to-day living.

If you EVER wanted to change the world to be more woman-friendly and now earth-friendly, corporations are listening. You don't need to be part of a research project, just blog about it. I completely trust that whatever your write, will be the right thing to say.

Mary Hunt
Mary@InWomenWeTrust.com
714-926-1223

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The Year of the Influential Woman