Gendered ideas about leaders: Do they affect leadership in higher education

Abstract

This article examines the research that has been conducted on gender stereotypes, leadership styles, and the efficacy of higher education institutions. In addition to this, it discusses the implications of this research for the fields of social psychology and organizational development. The distinctions between the two leadership archetypes of "friendly vs. competent" and "aggressive vs. communal" set the setting for a discussion of social psychological studies that investigate how stereotypes influence the decisions that are made by leaders. There are additional methods available for overcoming misconceptions and incorporating feminist concepts into leadership styles that are prioritized. There are numerous gender stereotypes that have a significant impact on the ways in which women and men behave in every aspect. In the domains of social psychology and organizational development, gender stereotypes help us understand how women are perceived in settings when they need to be leaders, as well as how women see themselves in those contexts. The manner in which men and women lead tends to vary, which has an effect on how effective leaders are seen to be. This study compares descriptive studies of gender problems in education leadership with studies of leadership in other settings in order to investigate how this body of work may be used in higher education leadership. Specifically, this study looks at how this body of work can be used in academic administration. In addition to this, it provides strategies for overcoming preconceived notions and expectations.