Women are evaluated more negatively compared to men even
when performing the same leadership behaviors.
There is bias against women leaders
in appraisals of their effectiveness and expectations of their leader behaviors
(Eagly & Carli, 2007).
This often places them in double bind situations
when they feel compelled to conform to
differing role expectations associated with gender and leadership. Are they to be feminine
women and be perceived as weak or strong leaders and be perceived as too domineering?
Whereas current organizations typically conform to masculinized norms more congruent for
men, women leaders can at a disadvantage when exercising behaviors that
contradict such expectations
or when they are compelled to conform to these norms.