Women who succeed in male dominated professions frequently elicit hostile responses.
In an experiment illustrating this phenomenon, women described as succeeding in the masculine careers of electrical engineer or electrician were perceived as less likable, attractive, happy, and socially desirable than women described as succeeding in the feminine careers of day-care provider or nurse.
Source: ”Penalties for Success: Reactions to Women Who Succeed in Male Gender – Typed Tasks,” Journal of applied Psychology 89 (2004)416 – 427; Madeline E.Heilman, Caryn J. Block, and Richard F.Martell.
In a result from a 2001 Gallup Poll on gender specific stereotypes the results were that “People considered men to posses traits such as ambition, confidence, self sufficiency, dominance and assertiveness” they described the traits of women as communal, kindness, helpfulness, concern for others, warmth and gentleness.
Because of the similarity between peoples mental association about men and leaders, men can seem natural or usual in most leadership roles. Therefore they do not need to be concerned about tailoring their leadership role to be accepted as legitimate. Men do not need to worry as much about appearing to be to masculine or too feminine and are freer than women to execute leadership as they see fit. In contrast women leaders are at a disadvantage because association about women are typically inconsistent about those with leaders. Although this incongruity appears to be decreasing over time, it has not disappeared.
Thus more people more easily credit men with leadership ability and more readily accept men as leaders.
Source: “Role congruity theory of prejudice towards female leaders” Psychological Review 109 (2002) Alice H. Eagly and Steven J. Karau.
In experiments where people were presented with descriptions of successful female or male managers, the women were seen as pushier, selfish, abrasive, and manipulative compared to their male counterparts.
So perhaps the question may be posed:
“is it counterintuitive at a subconscious level to have women in leadership roles?”
Authenticity refers to the degree of congruence between internal values and external expressions.
If we could encourage industry to encourage great leadership in this 21st century taking on the best traits and attributes of both sexes we would be a powerful force.
