Abstract
According to role congruence theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002), it is not the evaluative content of the stereotype of women but its mismatch with leadership roles that underlies women discrimination with regards to leadership roles. The current study sought to establish whetherleader’s gender identity or the extent to which the leader possesses traits associated with traditional gender stereotypes may explain leadership styles.Using a sample of 163 managers working within bank and personal care services, results show that among both male and female leaders, masculine gender identity was more strongly related to group-focused transformational leadership (charisma, inspirational motivation and idealized influence), transformational intellectual stimulation leadership and to transactional leadership styles. Furthermore, the results show that masculine leadership self-efficacy mediates the relationship between gender identity and leadership styles. Results are discussed in relation to previous research.
Highlights
Despite the increasing numbers of women in the workforce, few females occupy a management position (Balasubramanian & Lathabhavan, 2018)
This study aims to make the following contributions to the field: First, according to role congruence theory, masculine gender identity is demonstrably related to leadership behaviors
The discussion above provided the basis for the following hypothesis: Hypothesis 1: Masculine gender identity was positively associated with group-focused transformational leadership
Summary
Despite the increasing numbers of women in the workforce, few females occupy a management position (Balasubramanian & Lathabhavan, 2018). Most studies indicate that the ideal manager is perceived as possessing stereotypical ‘masculine’ traits such as self-confidence, independence, assertiveness, dominance and rationality (Kark, Waismel-Manor, & Shamir, 2012). The extent to which the leader possesses characteristics associated with gender stereotypes may explain leadership behaviors. This study aims to make the following contributions to the field: First, according to role congruence theory, masculine gender identity is demonstrably related to leadership behaviors. Gender role refers to both descriptive and prescriptive expectations related to women and men (Eagly & Karau, 2002). Gender identity consists in the extent to which an individual believes that he or she possesses traits associated with traditional gender stereotypes (Bem, 1993). Individuals who have a masculine gender identity perceive themselves as assertive, dominant, and competitive (Eagly & Karau, 2000). Gender identities are internalized gender roles expectations (Stryker & Burke, 2000)
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