Using your knowledge of gender and leadership, critically discuss the obstacles facing aspiring women leaders.
With men holding over 83% of the Fortune 500 's boards seats (Catalyst, 2014) and over 77% of UK Parliamentary seats (UK Parliament, 2014) it is evident that "patriarchy prevails in world societies" (Carli and Eagly, 2011:437).
This gender disparity in leadership roles is caused by the additional obstacles women face when climbing organisational ladders (Ryan and Haslam, 2005:p88). These obstacles are amplified with rank (Appendix A) and it was thought that a 'Glass Ceiling ' existed where women were unable to obtain top leadership roles (Powell and Butterfield, 1994). This motion has recently been redeveloped into what is described …show more content…
This stereotype is where leaders are perceived as being 'masculine ' (Koenig et al, 2011:p637) and consequentially implies that the 'femininity ' of women is less desirable in leadership. Unfortunately the stereotype can easily translate into discrimination into two main ways. Firstly through the perception that female leaders don 't 'fit the bill ' so when applying for leadership roles women perceived as lacking. The second way this stereotyping translates into discrimination is the concept of a self fulfilling prophecy whereby "fears are translated into reality" (Merton, 1948:p210). Carli and Eagly, (2011:p432) describe this process as the consciousness of group members "derailing" performance. This is a particularly significant obstacle for women as it reveals aspiring female leaders are having their ambitions shattered and consequently this will prevent women from applying for leadership roles. This will create a "glass elevator" for men whereby they rapidly move up the hierarchies because of the lack of female competition (Williams, 1992). This appears to be a sustainable lifecycle because the stereotypes that are causing the discrimination for aspiring female leaders is being reinforced by the effects of the discrimination (women not apply for roles). Probably the biggest obstacle for women leaders as a whole is to get out of this dangerous
With men holding over 83% of the Fortune 500 's boards seats (Catalyst, 2014) and over 77% of UK Parliamentary seats (UK Parliament, 2014) it is evident that "patriarchy prevails in world societies" (Carli and Eagly, 2011:437).
This gender disparity in leadership roles is caused by the additional obstacles women face when climbing organisational ladders (Ryan and Haslam, 2005:p88). These obstacles are amplified with rank (Appendix A) and it was thought that a 'Glass Ceiling ' existed where women were unable to obtain top leadership roles (Powell and Butterfield, 1994). This motion has recently been redeveloped into what is described …show more content…
This stereotype is where leaders are perceived as being 'masculine ' (Koenig et al, 2011:p637) and consequentially implies that the 'femininity ' of women is less desirable in leadership. Unfortunately the stereotype can easily translate into discrimination into two main ways. Firstly through the perception that female leaders don 't 'fit the bill ' so when applying for leadership roles women perceived as lacking. The second way this stereotyping translates into discrimination is the concept of a self fulfilling prophecy whereby "fears are translated into reality" (Merton, 1948:p210). Carli and Eagly, (2011:p432) describe this process as the consciousness of group members "derailing" performance. This is a particularly significant obstacle for women as it reveals aspiring female leaders are having their ambitions shattered and consequently this will prevent women from applying for leadership roles. This will create a "glass elevator" for men whereby they rapidly move up the hierarchies because of the lack of female competition (Williams, 1992). This appears to be a sustainable lifecycle because the stereotypes that are causing the discrimination for aspiring female leaders is being reinforced by the effects of the discrimination (women not apply for roles). Probably the biggest obstacle for women leaders as a whole is to get out of this dangerous