Session 8 - Women in Leadership

Question 1

Are women and men overall equally effective leaders?

Answer 1

Yes, however women and men were more effective in leadership roles congruent with their gender.
Women were less effective to the extent that leader role was masculinized.

Question 2

What other findings were found about women in leadership positions?

Answer 2

• Women were less effective than men in military positions
• Women were somewhat more effective than men in education, government, and social service organizations
• Women were substantially more effective than men in middle management positions
• Women were less effective when they were supervised or rated by a high number of males

Question 3

Why is there still a leadership gap in top management?

Answer 3

gender bias stemming from stereotyped expectations – “women take care and men take charge”

Question 4

What are stereotypes of men?

Answer 4

Men are stereotyped with agentic characteristics
confidence, assertiveness, independence, rationality, & decisiveness

Question 5

What are stereotypes of women?

Answer 5

Women are stereotyped with communal characteristics
concern for others, sensitivity, warmth, helpfulness, & nurturance

Question 6

Why do stereotypes have a negative effect on women in leadership?

Answer 6

• Penalties for women who violate gender stereotypes
• Decision-makers influenced by homosocial reproduction, a tendency for a group to reproduce itself in its own image (Ex. Male leaders choosing male successors)

Question 7

What is an empirical finding on what happens when women break stereotypes? (employee/ college referral)

Answer 7

Women are less likely to be offered the job if they were referred, because that is instrumental thinking and thus, breaks the stereotype

Question 8

What are factors that contribute to increase effective female leaders (circle)? What are the four factors?

Answer 8

1. organizational level:
   - changes in organizations to make it easier for women to reach top positions, e.g., maternity leave, pink quarter
2. societal level:
   - gender equity in households and changing role expectations
3. individual level:
   - self promotion
4. interpersonal level:
   - decreasing gender steortypes

Question 9

What are the three strategies that women themselves should follow to be able to become an effective leader (Sheryl Sandberg)

Answer 9

1. sit at the table
2. partner for real (at home)
3. don’t leave before leaving (don’t start to think about it too soon, because then you stop thinking about promotions, opportunities etc.)

Question 10

Is the pink quarter a good way to break this cycle?

Answer 10

It is a start, as it only cures the smptoms not the actual illness, in order for females to actually be more on top, you need to change the entire system (the four levels)