I would say that neither women nor men are inherently better leaders. I think effectiveness depends on context, organizational culture, and the person's ability to adapt their leadership style. My experiences with male leaders have not always been positive. Many tend to think of women as "hysterical" when emotions become involved, and are sticklers for schedules. They also show less empathy for personal and family-related issues. For example, when my children were younger, I was often the one to stay home with them when they were sick, mainly because my salary was lower than my husband's. This imbalance reflects broader societal issues, where women are often forced to balance work and family responsibilities in ways that men aren't. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted this dynamic somewhat, and flexible and hybrid work arrangements have become more commonplace, as well as a greater emphasis on empathy and adapting to employee needs.
At the same time, I have also had negative experiences with female leaders. Some have felt the need to "prove themselves" in male-dominated spaces by adopting an authoritarian approach or micromanaging. Research has found that women leaders often adopt this approach because they are caught in the "double bind," where they must be authoritative enough to be taken seriously but cooperative enough to avoid criticism for being too harsh (NPR, 1995). Studies also show that women tend to be more democratic or participatory overall, but may micromanage in order to prove their competence and control over situations (Eagly & Johnson, 1990). This micromanagement is sometimes a reflection of the added pressure women face to validate their authority.
Submission, APA, 2 paragraphs
