Perception of gender differences in accessing leadership position and evaluating it's effectiveness

Abstract

Background It is assumed that leadership is more congruent with the masculine than with the feminine gender role; however, the type of industry, in which leader works, can correct this perception. Over time gender stereotypes have been changing and young educated people should manifest less prejudice against the female during the selection to leadership position and evaluation of leadership effectiveness. Perceiver’s sex and experience in the work world are also important factors in these evaluation processes. Aim The purpose of the current study was to analyze two forms of prejudice toward present and potential leaders according to perception of Lithuanian young adults. It was hypothesized that decisions about promotion and evaluation of leadership effectiveness would be influenced by leader’s gender, type of industry, and perceiver’s gender, work experience. Methods 265 students (211 females and 54 males) filled up the questionnaire consisting of revised Leadership Effectiveness Instrument, hypothetical situation of job promotion (six experimental groups) and sociodemographic questions. Results. Results of the study revealed that participants with work experience better evaluated female candidate’s possibilities to get promotion whereas participants without work experience more often saw male candidate as a new leader. Besides, female leaders were characterized by effective communication skills and male leaders by effective management of the organizational unit, although no perceiver’s gender and work experience differences were noticed. Conclusion Perception of gender differences in attaining leadership roles mainly depended on perceiver’s work experience. The results about recognizing woman and man as effective in leadership roles were controversial.