A Meta-Analysis of Gender Differences in Leadership Effectiveness

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Paustian-Underdahl, S. (2012). A Meta-Analysis of Gender Differences in Leadership Effectiveness. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Despite years of evidence showing that men are typically considered to be more appropriate and effective in leadership positions than women, a recent debate has emerged over the potential existence of a female leadership advantage in certain contexts (Eagly & Carli, 2003a; Vecchio, 2003; Eagly & Carli, 2003b). This meta-analysis aims to contribute to this debate in the literature by quantitatively summarizing gender differences in leadership effectiveness using 99 independent samples from 95 studies. Results show that when all leadership contexts are considered together there is a non-significant gender difference in leadership effectiveness. Additionally, this study examines the influence of contextual moderators developed from role congruity theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002) and some competing theoretical frameworks. Overall, the findings support the core tenets of role congruity theory--that prejudice against female leaders can vary depending on a variety of features of the leadership context and characteristics of the perceivers of the leader's effectiveness. However, some of the hypotheses proposed by role congruity theory were only partially supported. The results of this meta-analysis point to ways in which the theory can be updated and expanded by taking into account findings supported by other theories presented in the literature on gender and leadership. Finally, this meta-analysis provides important practical implications for reducing the barriers women may face throughout the leadership labyrinth as they pursue the most elite leadership positions.

Details
Author

Paustian-Underdahl, Samantha

Title

A Meta-Analysis of Gender Differences in Leadership Effectiveness

Physical Description

1 online resource (162 pages) : PDF

Date

2012

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Despite years of evidence showing that men are typically considered to be more appropriate and effective in leadership positions than women, a recent debate has emerged over the potential existence of a female leadership advantage in certain contexts (Eagly & Carli, 2003a; Vecchio, 2003; Eagly & Carli, 2003b). This meta-analysis aims to contribute to this debate in the literature by quantitatively summarizing gender differences in leadership effectiveness using 99 independent samples from 95 studies. Results show that when all leadership contexts are considered together there is a non-significant gender difference in leadership effectiveness. Additionally, this study examines the influence of contextual moderators developed from role congruity theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002) and some competing theoretical frameworks. Overall, the findings support the core tenets of role congruity theory--that prejudice against female leaders can vary depending on a variety of features of the leadership context and characteristics of the perceivers of the leader's effectiveness. However, some of the hypotheses proposed by role congruity theory were only partially supported. The results of this meta-analysis point to ways in which the theory can be updated and expanded by taking into account findings supported by other theories presented in the literature on gender and leadership. Finally, this meta-analysis provides important practical implications for reducing the barriers women may face throughout the leadership labyrinth as they pursue the most elite leadership positions.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Organizational behavior
Management

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Gender
Leadership
Meta-Analysis
Performance

Subject Area

Organizational Science

Advisor(s)

Walker, Lisa

Committee Members

Woehr, David
Rogelberg, Steven
Shanock, Linda

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2012.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

PaustianUnderdahl_uncc_0694D_10354

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1008