The Inequality Of Womens Leadership - 1580 Words

The Inequality of Women in Leadership Throughout history, the United States have overcome a number of inequalities and discovered our many freedoms. In the modern age we now live, every individual should have equal rights. Theoretically we do, but technically there are still areas of inequality, specifically in business management. Women are facing difficulties in advancing to leadership positions within most fields, especially in Fortune 500 companies. Female leaders continually face difficulties both when inquiring decision-making positions as well as while in leadership roles. By combining research I’ve come across in leadership, gender roles, stereotyping and management statistics, this paper will consider the barriers, as well as†¦show more content†¦Chemers perceived that there are three theoretical explanations for the main differences between male and female leadership. One difference, the most obvious, is biological differences, which is based around hormones and temperament. The second difference is culturally diversities. This tells that socialized roles are varied per culture. The final difference is structurally determined. The different sexs have very diverse organizational structures (Eagly, Makhijani, Klonsky, 1992; Chemers, 2000). Placing practical differences aside, the essential problem with women leadership roles is actually seen in the attitudes of those around them. The attitudes people have towards women when they are the ones making decisions are a perception with no objectivity, formally known as a stereotype. Stereotyping is one of the main obstacles women endure in their leadership positions. Gender-Role Theory is the development of expectations people create of their own and others behavior based on the beliefs about what is appropriate for both male and females. For example, if a female were to pull out a man’s chair at a restaurant before seating herself or open his car door before getting in the car, that would be found as odd behavior for a women.