Gender and Leadership
- Gary N. Powell - University of Connecticut, USA
SAGE Swifts
An exciting new book exploring why we have not seen the enduring changes that were once optimistically anticipated. Each chapter tackles an important question around gender and leadership, such as 'Why do leader stereotypes emphasize masculinity?', 'Why are there so few women in top management positions?' and 'Why do (some) men in top management feel free to sexually harass women?'.
Leading international scholar in the field, Gary N. Powell explores cutting-edge topics including;
- the appropriate role of masculinity in leadership,
- the ever-so-small numbers of female CEOs,
- and sexual harassment by men in power such as Harvey Weinstein and the resulting #MeToo movement.
With suggestions of practical steps that would work toward achieving a workplace in which all employees can reach their leadership potential regardless of their gender, Gender and Leadership is an important read for students and faculty members alike across the social sciences and humanities.
Gary Powell’s new book explores gender and leadership by asking all of the tough questions and providing answers based on state-of-the-art theory and evidence. Readers can enjoy his thorough and insightful analyses of key questions ranging from, “Why do leader stereotypes emphasize masculinity?” to “Is there a female advantage or disadvantage in leadership?” to “How can we undo the linkage between leadership and gender?” There is even a chapter devoted to the question, “Why do (some) men in top management feel free to sexually harass women?” For anyone interested in understanding the sources of women’s under-representation in leadership positions, this book is an essential and comprehensive guide.
This is a must-read book for anyone interested in gender and leadership. Gary is an outstanding scholar who has worked in the field for almost fifty years, so he has a fascinating historical perspective on the topic. He is a wonderful communicator in terms of both connecting with academics and practitioners and his examples are drawn from across the world, thus providing a unique, inclusive picture of the state of the field.
Gender and Leadership is a beautifully written, meticulously researched book. Presented in an engaging, accessible style, this excellent text provides essential, evidence-based perspectives on gender and leadership, combining personal reflections with a comprehensive exploration of the field. Gary Powell takes the reader on a fascinating journey covering stereotyping; glass ceilings; inequalities, and sexual harassment. His powerful, exceptionally well-crafted narrative culminates with a persuasive argument for how we might achieve the goal whereby leaders reach their full potential, regardless of gender. This book is a joy to read: a must for students and practitioners alike. I can highly recommend it.
