female mediator | St. Louis mediation servicesWhen legal conflicts arise, finding the right mediator can be the difference between a prolonged battle and a satisfactory resolution. While skilled mediators come from all backgrounds, female mediators often bring unique strengths to the dispute resolution process that can help parties reach an agreement more effectively.

An article published by the American Bar Association pointed out that just 2% of mediators in disputes from 1990 to 2017 were women. “As a woman trial lawyer, as well as a mediator, I know, first-hand, how underutilized the women mediators are in our area,” Jill S. Bollwerk said. “Many women train to be mediators, and yet, when it comes time for the parties to agree to a mediator, the parties often don't even suggest a woman mediator. The field is overwhelmingly dominated by men, especially in the litigation arena. This is unfortunate, as I do believe women bring special skills to the table when it comes to mediation.”

As a certified mediator serving the St. Louis area since 2017, Jill’s approach combines decades of litigation experience with the nuanced understanding needed to guide parties toward mutually beneficial solutions. Her mediation practice focuses primarily on motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury disputes, but she also has experience mediating disputes involving insurance contracts, probate estate disputes, and employment disputes.

“I think there is a misconception that women are too soft to be mediators,” Jill said. “But that might actually be a good quality. Mediators are not supposed to act as judge and jury. Mediators are not supposed to act as bullies. Mediators are supposed to be neutral and facilitative. As a trial lawyer, I try to recommend a woman mediator to my opponent whenever I can. And as a woman mediator, I hope others will do the same and give us women mediators a try.”

1. Women Have Been Shown to Have Enhanced Emotional Intelligence 

Research has consistently shown that women score significantly higher on measures of emotional intelligence, particularly in areas of emotional recognition and empathy. For example, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that women scored higher than men by around half a standard deviation on emotional intelligence measures, which amounts to approximately 6–7 points difference. 

This advantage in perceiving emotions and facilitating social interactions makes female mediators adept at reading the subtle emotional dynamics that can help or hinder dispute resolution. Their heightened emotional awareness allows them to identify underlying concerns and unspoken fears that may be preventing parties from reaching an agreement.

2. Female Mediators Gravitate Toward a Collaborative Rather Than a Confrontational Approach

Research indicates that female mediators often adopt a more collaborative approach in dispute resolution. A study published in the Negotiation Journal found that female mediators are more inclined toward transformative mediation practices, emphasizing relationship enhancement and empowerment of the parties involved, compared to their male counterparts. 

Rather than focusing solely on reaching a settlement, female mediators often incorporate strategies that help parties develop better communication patterns and prevent future conflicts. This collaborative style often leads to more durable agreements since parties feel personally invested in the solutions they've helped create.

3. Women Tend to Have Strong Active Listening Skills

Women often excel in active listening, a key component of effective communication. A study by Zenger and Folkman, published in Forbes, analyzed data from over 7,000 leaders and found that women were rated more highly than men in 15 out of 16 core leadership competencies, including communication and listening skills.

Strong active listening abilities help parties in a mediation session feel truly heard and understood. For female mediators, this skill goes beyond simply hearing words:

  • Understanding underlying concerns. A skilled mediator listens for the deeper issues beneath surface complaints, such as an injured person's fear about providing for their family rather than just their desire for a specific settlement amount.
  • Validating emotions. Through both verbal acknowledgment and body language, the mediator shows they recognize the legitimacy of each party's feelings without taking sides or making judgments about those emotions.
  • Identifying unspoken needs. By paying attention to what parties avoid saying and reading between the lines, mediators can often uncover critical needs that the parties themselves may struggle to articulate directly.
  • Reflecting back key points. The mediator regularly summarizes and restates what they've heard to ensure accurate understanding and show parties that their perspectives are being carefully considered.
  • Noticing inconsistencies. Active listening involves tracking when a party's statements don't align with their previous positions or nonverbal cues, which can reveal areas that need further exploration.
  • Processing emotional subtext. Beyond the literal meaning of words, mediators tune into tone, pace, and emotional intensity to better understand each party's true position and concerns.

4. Female Mediators Often Display a Strong Commitment to Understanding Both Sides' Perspectives

A study published in the Journal of Psychology Research and Behavior Management found that incorporating perspective-taking into the mediation process led to a notable decrease in intergroup hostility. Participants who engaged in perspective-taking reported lower levels of hostility compared to those who did not. 

While specific statistics directly linking women's participation in mediation to enhanced perspective-taking are limited, there is evidence that female involvement in peace processes has been associated with more inclusive and comprehensive agreements. For instance, a report by UN Women highlights that women's participation in mediation is essential for achieving lasting, positive peace, as they often bring inclusive and cooperative strategies to the table.

Contact Jill S. Bollwerk for Mediation Services in St. Louis

If you're seeking a mediator who combines extensive legal experience with the interpersonal skills needed to facilitate successful resolutions, consider working with Jill S. Bollwerk. As a certified mediator in both Missouri State and Federal Courts, she brings valuable insight gained from decades of active litigation practice to every mediation session.

You can schedule services with Jill either by calling our office at (314) 315-8111 or by scheduling her services through Lexitas ADR. Here is a link to Jill’s calendar of availability on Lexitas: Lexitas Neutral: Jill Bollwerk

Jill S. Bollwerk
Helping St. Louis area residents with personal injury, workers' compensation & insurance appeals/disputes.
Comments are closed.