A study of gender bias against female leaders

Pages: 1419-1424
Manju Mishra (Department of Psychology, H.R.P.G. College, Khalilabad, Sant Kabirnagar, Uttar Pradesh)

The present study investigates the gender bias against female leaders in male and female employees working in different organizations. Despite the significant educational achievement, women are not represented at higher position at the workplace. This trend is present even in developed country like United States. Catalyst survey (2015) reveals that only 5% of the companies in the standard and poor’s 500 index had female chief executive officers. Although women are outnumbering men in educational achievements, they are stuck at the bottom or middle level at workplace. McKinsey survey report (2015) reveals that India’s corporate sector has only 4% women at senior positions, compared to 25% of women at entry level. The question arises that what are the factors which refrain women from moving ahead to higher positions at workplace. This study aims to analyze those factors. 100 men and women employed in different government organizations participated in the study. 50 respondents were male and50 were female and the age range was 30-45 years. Respondents were working as bank officer and College lecturers. Their income ranged from 45000 to 1, 00000 per month. A 25 item questionnaire was used to measure attitude towards female leader/boss. This questionnaire has 25 items related with three areas (i) Competence (ii) Work family balance and (iii) Relationship/Communication skills. Mean S.D. and t test were conducted to analyze the data. Results indicated that female leaders were found to less competent by male and female participants. Work female balance was also found to be a more significant barrier for female leaders. Relationship with employees was not found to be a significant barrier by men and women respondents. Results and implications have been discussed with reference to the role congruity theory and social stereotype theory.