Workforce in the United States: How Do Women Lead? A Brief Overview

Authors: Basham J, Cangemi J* and Wafzig E

DOI: 10.23880/pprij-16000258

Volume 5, Issue 4

Abstract

The workforce in the United States is made up of almost an equal percentage of males and females, but women continue to lag significantly behind men in terms of leadership positions both in corporations and politics. Studies show women tend to favor transformational leadership style as well as democratic style and contingent reward behavior leadership style. Two of the traits that seem to harm the effectiveness of women leaders are their unwillingness to self-promote and hesitation when faced with negotiations. This article explores the literature surrounding the leadership styles of men and women and seeks to determine why one gender is considered more effective than the other, resulting in leadership positions being filled by mostly males.

Keywords: Leadership styles; Gender differences; Leadership; Women leaders; Leader effectiveness; Leadership positions

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