Superwoman and woes – Harvard Business Review about stereotypes of female leaders
Source: wwomenglobally.com
A very interesting article appeared on the Harvard Business Review blog, focusing on the common stereotypes harming the success of the leadership education for women.
The authors of the analysis, mention 2 major stereotypes about the female leaders: the superwoman and the female leader’s woes.
1. The Superwoman cliché:
There is a lack of women leaders as role models, but sustaining stereotypes of the superwoman is no solution. For role models to be effective, they need to be both inspirational and motivational. (…) The superwoman is not affirming of choices and balance. She continues to perpetuate the traditional notion that doing leadership about getting control, dominance, and power, at all costs. Instead, leadership programs need to increase the repertoire of role models so leadership is feasible, flexible, and appealing at all stages of a career. Such role models could be better fostered from our networks and our exemplary peers, rather than from exaggerated tokens of women’s leadership.
2. The Woes cliché:
Glass ceilings, the double binds of family and work, and discriminatory nature of organizations reinforce ideas that women are vulnerable and need fixing. Women need a better way to use the language of self-promotion and accountability.
Read the whole article under this link.
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