When we describe a female boss as a "strong woman", "iron woman", or "rich woman", there is actually a certain abnormal feeling in our subconscious, and it carries a noticeable derogatory meaning. We can accept the story of a legendary male boss, no matter how many real elements there are in this legend;
But we are more skeptical that a female boss can achieve success in the same legitimate, honest, moral, and legendary way. Here we are actually facing a question: are people ready for a mature and natural mentality to accept a female boss?
The discomfort of women standing at the pinnacle of the business world has a long history. As early as 1965 in the Harvard Business Review, two-thirds of male executives and one-fifth of female executives reported feeling uncomfortable working under female bosses. Many recent studies have shown that both men and women are not inclined to accept the leadership of female bosses.
Female bosses are not popular?
Why don't you like female bosses? Here are some typical reasons to express:
——The female boss lacks courage. They are more hesitant and indecisive, "their management level is relatively low, so they are more likely to lose—— The female boss has many things to do. They are too sensitive to the opinions of others and are prone to finding fault—— The female boss is too stingy.
They always remember that they are the boss, putting on the boss's airs, afraid that you may overlook that she is the boss. "- Female bosses tend to personalize things. They are not professional enough and have insufficient vision—— Female bosses pay more attention to efficiency and details.
They are slaves of the system, poor in paying attention to trivial matters, and "putting people too closely"—— Female bosses are more capable of finding faults. Women are more picky than men.
——Following the female boss doesn't bring much face. What excellent man have you ever seen carrying bags for women.
Are women born to be led?
But quite a few studies have shown that these feelings cannot be confirmed in specific work relationships. So why is there such a common negative impression of female bosses? Firstly, there is a widespread social bias. Accepting female leadership represents a 'shame' in traditional and still prevalent male chauvinistic cultures.
Secondly, we need to pay attention to the field where the female boss is located. From an industry perspective, female supervisors are considered more suitable for jobs in fields such as healthcare, culture and entertainment, technology research, and business trade;
Within the organization, women are considered more suitable as deputies and middle management; In terms of division of labor, women are considered more suitable for engaging in administrative logistics such as operational and executive affairs.
Why is there bias towards female bosses?
Deborah Taineng also revealed the stylistic differences between male and female authorities in expressing their opinions in her book "Voice: Who's Listening and Why" (which can be easily perceived as differences in personality and behavioral abilities by others), partially explaining why people tend to form biases against female bosses:
——Women are more likely to display uncertainty in their speech and are more likely to ask questions. This tendency enables men to show more confidence and control than women.
——When describing achievements, women are more likely to say 'how we are', while men are more likely to say 'how I am'. This is just a difference in expression, but the personal traits of men will be more prominent, which is particularly influential for outsiders to form different feelings about their personality.
——Women are more likely to express their negative feedback (but it does not mean they only see or see more negative feedback) and are more willing to receive praise than men. This makes working with women more likely to create a sense of oppression and lack of motivation.
Does the neutrality of female bosses harm their image?
As a successful coordinator and leader of a team, it is increasingly necessary for bosses and supervisors to shape characteristics that are acceptable to both genders in their own leadership style, which is known as "neutrality".
However, the same social behavior has different social reactions. The "neutrality" of male bosses is more often interpreted as a commendatory expression, while the "neutrality" of female bosses has sparked a backlash at the social level, as it stimulates the idealized female image in the public's mind.
The characteristics of women's management style, such as sufficient exploration preparation, sensitivity to team feelings, emphasis on clear authorization, emphasis on communication and dialogue, and less strong competition for benefits with team members, make it possible for female bosses to have more prominent advantages than male bosses in many aspects.
Due to the fact that female leaders may have to endure more challenges and psychological pressure than men in terms of their achievements, they are more likely to have the psychological conditions to understand the leader. That's why in real life, the overall positive feeling brought by an employee accepting a female boss's leadership may not be lower than that of a male boss.