Effective Leaders and Women

Gender Differences in Our Society

The study published by Eurekalert! The Global Source for Science News entitled "Women most effective leaders for today's world" (2003) states that according to the findings of a study in Psychological Bulletin, 129(3), a meta-analysis indicates that "on average, women in management positions are somewhat better leaders than men in equivalent positions." In my own personal experience, I have found that I can agree with this finding but only in certain situations: in some of the places where I have worked, I have found the women managers are more effective but in other places where I have worked, I've preferred men leaders. The context, I think, is important and I do not feel that both genders are equally effective at all leadership positions across the board.

In my field observation of my friend, a girl my own age, I asked how her gender impacted her experiences at school, work, in relationships, life expectations, self-image, appreciation of art, what she liked in art, why she found it significant, and whether she felt free to express herself. When it came to how gender impacted her experiences at work and school she said she did not notice any impact -- but when pressed she said that she felt that she could probably get away with more than guys could. I asked her to clarify and she would not say anymore. In relationships, she gave the same suggestive comment but again would not elaborate. Her mood was coy. As for expectations in life, she said she did not think about it but asserted that men and women should have the same expectations. Self-image, however, did generate a fuller response: she asserted that it was hard to be a girl because society places so many demands on you -- you have to be pretty, or you have to be strong, or you have to be thin, or you have to be a feminist. She said she never felt that she had to be any of these things, though she did want to be attractive for her boyfriend. She felt that her self-image was mainly defined by what she valued in life, which was her family and friends and being in love with life. She could not think of any artistic expressions that she found meaningful -- so I offered some suggestions, such as music or books or films -- and she said that, of course, all of those things wee meaningful but she did not elaborate. I asked her why these things were significant but she implied that that was private and she did not wish to go on. I could tell that art impacted her on a deep level, as she could engross herself in a book or in a song and completely shut out the rest of the world and then come back as though she'd just been told a great secret that she would never share with you directly but that she would share indirectly with you just through the good mood that it put her in. My friend has never found it difficult to express herself when she so chooses, but usually she is quite restrained -- I would not say constrained -- but when I asked her, she gave a surprising answer, saying that of course she always feels constrained. I asked her why and she would not elaborate. She just smiled, laughed and rolled her eyes.