Women s Leadership Styles Gender Stereotypes Start At...

Within the last 100 years, the role of women within the United States has changed dramatically. Although the role of women has changed over the years, there are still many obstacles that women must overcome to gain top positions within their career. Women today face unique challenges within the social, career, educational, and political field. From taking this course Women in Leadership, I have gained knowledge on the barriers that are preventing women from advancing, see how factors such as gender could influence women’s leadership styles and find out what strategies that promote social justice for women. I believe there are three important concepts from this class that would help guide my own judgments and decisions moving forward. The†¦show more content†¦Women who do not adhere to the typical feminine role are usually seen as aggressive, assertive, or sometimes even considered a â€Å"bitch†. Women leaders come off too hard or too soft but never just right. A woman’s influence in a masculine’s setting could be resisted and ignored because of the double bind dilemma. If women leaders show that they are supportive, warm, and considerate as leaders, they are often not respected. Society expects one thing from women, but then demands another. Although I have not personally encountered gender inequality and stereotyping within my workplace, who knows if I will encounter the double bind if I continue to climb the career ladder. In dealing with double bind I would try to be the best I can be, without worrying about how my peers view me. I would continue to be confident in myself, in my ability, and not doubt myself because of my peers and their view on me. Furthermore, children learn to adopt certain gender roles, which are unfair to both sexes. When children move from childhood into adolescence, they are many factors they are exposed to which influences their behaviors and attitudes towards gender roles. Parents usually encourage activities that they consider appropriate to a child’s gender (Lytton Romney, 1991). For example, if the child is a boy, toy cars and action figures are bought for him, he is told to suppress his emotions, to act