Stressing the Advantages of Female Leadership Can Place Women at a Disadvantage

Bibliographic Data

ID5338774
AuthorsJan Lammers (0000-0002-2647-121X, University of Cologne), Joris Lammers, Anne Gast (0000-0001-5224-2448, University of Cologne)
Year2017
Volume48
Issue1
Pages28-39
Publication date2017-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1864-9335 • E-ISSN: 2151-2590
PublisherHogrefe Publishing Group (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1027/1864-9335/a000292
OpenAlexW2607460415
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited76

Women are still underrepresented in management and men hold the majority of higher positions. Nonetheless, one often-heard claim in popular media is that female people-centered leadership skills (empathy, communication, etc.) are a better match for the business world - especially in the future. Furthermore, a related idea is that women may use this advantage to take over men's dominant position in leadership. Four studies show that such claims paradoxically maintain gender inequality, by undermining support for affirmative action to reduce female underrepresentation in leadership. Where earlier research shows that positive stereotypes can hurt women by suggesting that they are unqualified for leadership, the current findings show that even positive stereotypes that claim that women are particularly well qualified for leadership can hurt women in their chances for gaining leadership positions. Although it is good to highlight the advantages of female leadership, exaggerated and sensationalist claims contribute to a perpetuation of gender inequality

Affirmative action · Disadvantage · Economics · Empathy · Gender inequality · Inequality · Leadership · Leadership style · Media studies · Political science · Position (finance) · Sensationalism · Sociology · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Law · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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