Actual and Perceived Differences Between
Male and Female Leaders
Though we are similarly built, the physiological differences between male and female humans are quite easy to spot. Men and women differ in shape, size and reproductive organs; there is no question about that. Observing behavioral differences between men and women requires observation, statistical evidence and research. To accurately evaluate male and female behavioral differences, we must first understand perception, and to understand perception one must study how behavior is observed and interpreted. This opens up a new realm of possibilities, since societies throughout the world differ on their expected roles for male and female. For objectivity, this report will focus on actual and perceived differences between male and female leaders. The report will study how men and women differ in expressing leadership, and how their leadership is interpreted by facts and also by perception. The report will examine peer-reviewed research literature addressing male and female leadership differences present in contemporary executive, managerial and political context. The report will also examine statistical data and an interview that directly addresses the question of actual and perceived differences between male and female leadership. An observation conducted specifically to interpret perceived differences between male and female leaders by lower level employees will also be used as research knowledge on the subject matter. The information obtained in the literature and observations will then be compared against concepts covered by the article ‘A Framework for Understanding Social Identity Perspectives’ in the textbook ‘Understanding and Managing Diversity’. In conclusion ...
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...onal, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles: A meta-analysis comparing women and men. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 569–591.
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Gender stereotypes are common in the United States today, even though many men and women have been working hard to defeat it. The task is made difficult however, when society in general implants the idea of gender roles into the mind of a child. Two authors, Judy Mann of The Difference and Bernard Lefkowitz of Our Guys face the issue of gender roles and stereotypes, and how they affect our lives today.
In many cultures, expectations are put upon men and women. From birth, boys are expected to be masculine and girls are expected to be feminine. These expectations follow us into adulthood. Although these expectations vary widely, in the United States, more masculine characteristics are valued (Michaelson & Aaland, 1976). Leadership and assertiveness, and other masculine characteristics are valued in work environments and other areas, while more feminine traits such as excessive expression of emotion can be less valuable. However, a combination of these characteristics, or androgyny, allows people to have important leadership skills, but also have empathy and consideration for others, and the ability to address different situations appropriately. Michaelson and Aaland defined androgyny as a combination of self-assertivity and relatedness, self-assertivity being the more masculine characteristic and relatedness being the more feminine trait. It is a combination of sensitive behaviors and controlled emotions. They described masculinity as agency, or having more emotional control and independence, and femininity as communion, or being sensitive to other people. Androgynous people showed characteristics of both.
Miller, C., Lurye, L., Zosuls, K., & Ruble, D. (2009). Accessibility of Gender Stereotype Domains: Developmental and Gender Differences in Children. Sex Roles, 60(11/12), 870- 881. doi:10.1007/s11199-009-9584-x Trautner, H. M., Ruble, D. N., Cyphers, L., Kirsten, B., Behrendt, R., & Hartmann, P. (2005).
The research on sex role stereotyping is currently growing. There are many theories regarding its existence. Some attribute the sex roles to the media, literature and society, but it is a combination of all these factors. Despite the best of intentions by parents to not encourage the sex roles, at the time of kindergarten, children will demonstrate behaviors specific to their sex. It is believed that this phenomenon occurs because the children know that they are either a boy or a girl but are trying to figure out exactly what that means (Seid, 114).
The reading assignment for this unit included reading several articles and one book in particular, The Female Advantage, by Sally Helgesen as an introduction into varying leadership styles. Leadership, as a honed craft is practiced continually in different ways and varying circumstances, no two individuals will have the same leadership style. Certain distinctive traits brought into the forum and on display for followers to observe. Some traits can be visible, clothing or skin color as examples, others, however, are not as visible such as upbringing or family situation. Each of these factors could play a role in the leadership style of a leader. One trait that the author of the book uses to distinguish leaders is gender. As much as men and women must be treated the fairly and equally, it cannot be denied that outside of the biological aspect, men and women are slightly different. Each gender brings a unique approach to leadership situations.
Everybody is born and made differently, but one thing is similar, our gender. We are born either male or female, and in society everybody judges us for our gender. This is called gender roles; societies expecting you to act like a male or female (Rathus, 2010). Some people say, “act like a lady,” or “be a man,” these are examples of how gender roles work in our everyday lives. In society when we think stereotypes, what do we think? Many think of jocks, nerds, or popular kids; gender stereotyping is very similar. Gender stereotypes are thoughts of what the gender is supposed to behave like (Rathus, 2010). One example of a gender stereotype for a man would be a worker for the family, and a women stereotype would be a stay at home mom. Though in todays age we don’t see this as much, but it is still around us. In different situations both gender roles and stereotypes are said and done on a daily basis and we can’t avoid them because everyone is different.
When we think about how it used to be 100 years ago, the only people in leadership roles where men, and there was no presence of women. Why is it that we tend to see more men in leadership positions? Usually when we think of what a leader looks like, we tend to describe them as powerful, assertive and confidence. Because of stereotypes our society immediately labels this person as a man, due to the roles that we are expected to follow. Today, there has been a huge shift for women in leadership positions; however, there are many challenges that they still have to overcome. A process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Northouse, 2007) defines a leader. Moreover, leaders come in different forms whether in a professional, educational, or group setting. As a male college student and an advocate for equal rights between men and women, my understanding of the struggles that women face has a huge impact on my philosophy of leadership. The three most important concepts in this course that has resonated with me the most are double bind, and think manager-think male and glass ceiling.
First we need to examine the cases where this is present. Less obvious stereotypes are those of women. Women?s roles in society have changed throughout the times. Are the...
This is not about being nasty or nice – it is entirely about being achievement oriented by focusing on performance and organizational goals. Being achievement oriented, leaders have to recognize that they have to be mindful of and accountable for the choices they make because they are setting the model of what’s appropriate and inappropriate. Words matter, they are as much a form of expression for leaders as they are to poets, singers, and writers. According to Posner and Kouzes(p. 59) to be a leader, you got to awaken to the fact that you don’t have to copy someone else or follow a script and you don’t have to wear someone else’s style. Currently, there are an increasing number of women who are in leadership roles in the workplaces. It is a generally accepted as true that woman are supposed to use feminine ways of doing leadership. However, this is not always true. In some cases, women also use masculine ways of leadership. In this paper, Miranda Priestly illustrates how a female leader breaks traditional gender stereotypes and uses masculine leadership style.
Schuh, S. C., Bark, A. S., Quaquebeke, N. V., Hossiep, R., Frieg, P., & Dick, R. V. (2014). Gender differences in leadership role occupancy: The mediating role of power motivation. Journal of Business Ethics, 120(3), 363-379. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1663-9.
Society has stamped an image into the minds of people of how the role of each gender should be played out. There are two recognized types of gender, a man and a woman, however there are many types of gender roles a man or a woman may assume or be placed into by society. The ideas of how one should act and behave are often times ascribed by their gender by society, but these ascribed statuses and roles are sometimes un-welcomed, and people will assume who they want to be as individuals by going against the stereotypes set forth by society. This paper will examine these roles in terms of how society sees men and women stereotypically, and how men and women view themselves and each other in terms of stereotypes that are typically ascribed, as well as their own opinions with a survey administered to ten individuals. What I hope to prove is that despite stereotypes playing a predominant role within our society, and thus influencing what people believe about each other in terms of their same and opposite genders, people within our society are able to go against these ascribed stereotypes and be who they want and it be okay. Through use of the survey and my own personal history dealing with gender stereotyping I think I can give a clear idea as to how stereotypes envelope our society, and how people and breaking free from those stereotypes to be more individualistic.