Recapping SW&CR: The Force Is Female (Ch. 16)

Chapter 16: The Force is Female: Negotiation Lessons from the Women of Star Wars (Deborah Thompson Eisenberg)

“There are things that you cannot solve by jumping in an X-wing and blowing something up!” – General Leia Organa to Poe Dameron

General Organa’s comment to Poe underlies one of the many lessons that one can learn from the women of Star Wars–and these lessons can help us all, regardless of gender. These lessons can help women navigate the asteroid field of the challenges that negotiation can present, from double standards to oppressive gender norms. Negotiation is a difficult task, and everyone can benefit from increased knowledge and the guidance of mentors.

The first lesson: preparation is your ally. Spending time to prepare and gather information gives you more leverage and offers hope of success, whether you are negotiating for a higher salary or getting plans about the Empire’s weakness to the Alliance.

The second lesson: a successful negotiation is more likely if you approach the conversation as a problem-solving conversation rather than a lightsaber battle. While a non-cooperative conflict style can lead to negative outcomes because it does not include others, a cooperative conflict style can lead to increased success and increased satisfaction from involved parties.

The third lesson: don’t underestimate the power of building relationships with others. In Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia builds a relationship with Wicket A. Warrick that pays off in dividends for the Rebel strike team and the Ewoks in the Battle of Endor. As Eisenberg writes, “if you establish strong relationships with your negotiating partners, they are more likely to trust you and respond in kind.” Team-based collaboration is powerful and effective—but don’t be afraid to be flexible and adjust your strategy to be more competitive to avoid exploitation.

The final lesson is that finding mentorship can bring you strength, much like how Rey calls upon the Jedi before her during her battle against Darth Sidious in The Rise of Skywalker. Seek out mentorship, and pay it forward by teaching others.

— Written by Sarah Takessian, SW&CR Padawan and 3L at the University of Oregon School of Law