Gender Stereotypes about Leadership: Development and Consequences

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Worldwide, women are underrepresented in leadership roles. One influential factor that contributes to the gender gap in leadership is pervasive stereotypes associating leadership with men and masculinity. Although numerous studies have examined these stereotypes among adults, little is known about their developmental origins. This symposium begins to fill this gap by examining 4-12-year-old children’s gender stereotypes about leadership and how they impact children’s leadership aspirations.

The first paper examines children’s notions of leadership in the political sphere. The results suggest that children gradually learn that the political world is male-dominated and masculine, leading girls to lose interest in political leadership. The second paper probes the roles of both gender and skin color in Indian children’s views of leadership, indicating that children expect leaders to be lighter-skinned and male. The third paper investigates gender biases in children’s evaluations of leadership candidates, finding that children are less likely to think female candidates would be chosen as leaders, and express greater dislike toward female candidates if they present themselves as competent (vs. warm). The last paper demonstrates that girls (vs. boys) anticipate more backlash toward leaders and are less interested in becoming leaders. Nevertheless, describing a leadership role as prosocial and gender-balanced increases girls' interest in leadership.

Taken together, the four papers provide compelling evidence on the early development and consequences of children’s gender stereotypes about leadership, and offer insight into potential strategies to mitigate the early-emerging gender gap.

Sub Unit

• Sex, Gender

Chairs

• Reut Shachnai, Yale University

• Gillian Grose, University of Maryland - College Park

Individual Presentations

• Gendered Political Socialization and Children’s Political Interest and Ambition - Presenting Author: Mirya R. Holman, Tulane University; Non-Presenting Author: Angela Bos, College of Wooster; Non-Presenting Author: J. Celeste Lay, Tulane University; Non-Presenting Author: Jill S. Greenlee, Brandeis University; Non-Presenting Author: Zoe Oxley, Union College

• Children in India Use Social Category Information to Guide Leadership Choices - Presenting Author: Radhika Santhanagopalan, University of Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Isobel A Heck, University of Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Katherine D. Kinzler, University of Chicago

• Children’s Evaluations of Leadership Candidates Based on Candidate Gender and Self-Presentation - Presenting Author: Gillian Grose, University of Maryland - College Park; Non-Presenting Author: Reut Shachnai, Yale University; Non-Presenting Author: Lindsay Tuttle, Cornell University; Non-Presenting Author: Katherine D. Kinzler, University of Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Lin Bian, University of Chicago

• Gender Gaps in Anticipated Peer Support and Interest in Leadership - Presenting Author: Andrea Vial, New York University Abu Dhabi; Non-Presenting Author: Andrei Cimpian, New York University