We’re all familiar with the traditional fairytale of the beautiful young woman locked in a tower, letting her hair down for Prince Charming to come and rescue her. And while the story is problematic on many levels (don’t get us started on needing a man to come and save us), the theory behind it is being hailed as key to challlenging some of the systemic misogyny lingering in workplaces. 

In 2024, the fact is that women are still paid less than men, are less likely to be promoted, and find it harder to raise finance to support business ventures than their male counterparts, not to mention having to manage the hundreds of daily micro-aggressions women can face in the workplace. 

And while lots of us are able to point to a mentor who has helped us thrive at work, many of us are also able to recall a boss or senior woman at work who hasn’t given other women the easiest of rides, for whatever reason (more on this, later). But there’s good news: the ‘Queen Bee’ era is falling out of favour, making way for the Rapunzel theory, allowing women to thrive at all levels of their careers. 

First things first: what on earth is the Rapuzel theory? Well, it’s pretty simple. You know how Rapunzel throws her hair down to help the prince climb up the tower? It’s that, but instead of hair, we’re throwing down lifelines and aids for women following us through the ranks at work. 

“The Rapunzel theory means taking conscious steps to ensure you’re helping others succeed in their careers, as you build yours,” explains Eleanor Kaye, managing director of the Newton Venture Program. “It’s the concept of laying down routes for others to follow or extending a hand to help people up, rather than focusing solely on what lies ahead for your personal career path.”

This is in direct contrast to the ‘Queen Bee’ concept, where women in authority are critical of their juniors and quick to distance themselves from them. This in itself is a fascinating phenomenon rooted in patriarchy, as research shows that it stems from gender inequality and discrimination, but the Rapunzel theory is the opposite and it moves us all away from a scarcity mindset to one of alliance and empowerment. 

“The Rapunzel theory beautifully captures this idea of ‘throwing down the ladder’, and it really is crucial for women in leadership to craft pathways for others to follow,” notes CEO and founder of SA Communications, Sophie Attwood. “When we invest in the growth and development of the next generation, the benefits ripple far beyond the individuals we mentor.”

“Women continue to break barriers and rise through the ranks in various industries. However, the journey to success is rarely a solitary one, and the importance of women supporting women in the workplace cannot be overstated,” notes Jenny Segal, workplace culture expert and author of On Motivation: Women & Workplace Culture. “Regardless of their current positions or levels of seniority, women have a unique opportunity to create a supportive network that fosters growth, equality and empowerment for all.”

And the theory is particularly important in tackling career accessibility for underrepresented or disadvantaged women, who may lack a ‘way in’ to many professions.

“Keeping this concept in your head can be a great reminder of the impact we can all have on paying it forward and, ultimately, helping level the playing field across the world of work,” agrees Kaye. “Otherwise, the risk is that only people with strong networks or ‘friends in the right places’ get the leg-up.”

It’s crucial to remember that, no matter what our job entails, we all leave a legacy and create an impact – even if we don’t realise it. 

“Where we can, we should all be reaching out a hand to guide someone along a path we ourselves have walked,” agrees founder and CEO of beauty tech platform Yuty, Simi Lindgren. “When women come together, it creates magic. In a world that often pits women against each other, it’s important to remember how powerful it is to uplift and support one another.”

How long have you got? In an ideal world, working in this way would be a given. Let’s take a look at how we can all win when we work together. 

1. It fosters a culture of collaboration

“Having role models to pave the way for us isn’t just important, it’s transformative,” says Attwood. “It creates space for collaboration, boosts confidence in younger colleagues and creates a much healthier environment for all.”

2. It helps level the playing field 

“If we are to level the playing field and unlock the value that would come from that, both men and women who hold decision-making power must ensure they’re playing their part in evolving the status quo,” says Check Warner MBE, co-founding partner of inclusive venture fund, Ada Ventures. “We can sometimes unwittingly creating additional barriers that make things even harder for women to succeed, and if we aren’t able to unlock equality of opportunity and the financial power and independence it affords, we all suffer.”

3. It benefits businesses and individuals alike

“The world can’t function if we all keep the blinkers on and fail to take the steps that unlock change. When we level the playing field and enable women to thrive, the whole ecosystem benefits,” notes Warner. “It’s estimated that closing the gender pay gap would raise global economic activity by up to $7 trillion – a mind-blowing figure. Likewise, we miss out on the impact a powerful generation of women leaders would have on finding, investing in, and championing the next generation of women entrepreneurs and innovators.”

4. It’s rewarding for everyone

“Helping others achieve their potential is just incredibly rewarding,” says Attwood. “Seeing someone you’ve supported go on to achieve their goals is genuinely one of the greatest joys of leadership. And the truth is, mentorship isn’t one-sided. I’ve learned so much from the brilliant individuals I’ve mentored – their fresh perspectives and resilience probably inspire me just as much as I hope to inspire them.”

There are lots of ways we can implement changes to our workplace behaviour to benefit everyone, men and women alike, and the resposibility doesn’t just lie with senior women, it’s something we can all be committed to. So, how can we all ensure we are living and breathing the Rapunzel theory in our office everyday? Here’s a list of steps we can all take:

• Offer up mentorship and coaching to juniors, where appropriate. 
• Create a culture of allyship – including kindness and respect, which should go without saying. 
• Get to know each other in and out of work to strengthen bonds and connection. 
• Advocate for and speak up for all other women when they are not there, or aren’t crediting themselves. 
• Create safe and communicative communities/workplace culture.
• Draw attention to all other women’s ideas.
• Consider how you can help evolve wider workplace practices, such as the introduction of internal policies around hiring, inclusion, and accessibility so that your team reflects the world we live in, rather than mirroring the attributes of the hiring manager.

And if you’ve just started out in your career and are doubting whether you can add value to this conversation, remember that success isn’t all about tangible achievements. “At the end of the day, we’ve really got to remember that real success isn’t about how high you climb alone; that would be such a lonely existence,” says Attwood. “It’s about how many people you bring with you.”

Images: Getty