The Rhodes Project

Women have been Rhodes Scholars since 1977. They are selected worldwide from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the Commonwealth Caribbean and Jamaica, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, the United States, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. More than 1,100 women have now taken up the scholarship. The credential it represents—its validation of academic attainment and leadership capacity, and the legacy established by the prominence of earlier Rhodes Scholars—makes it a potent passport for career success. How have women Rhodes Scholars made use of that passport? Do Rhodes Scholar women follow the patterns of other women? Or does the power of the Rhodes “brand” allow them to achieve more? Do they have, want, or need mentors or role models? Do they have more fulfilling lives or do they too struggle with issues of work-life balance? What has been the collective experience of this group of pioneering women and, just as importantly, what can it tell us about society more broadly? The Rhodes Project was founded in 2004 to answer these and related questions through a study of women Rhodes Scholars. Established as a Registered Charity in 2010, the mission of the Rhodes Project is twofold. First, we aim to advance public understanding on the subject of female achievement and gender equality, and to raise awareness of gender issues. Secondly, we strive to promote research for the public benefit in all aspects of these subjects, and to publish our results.