Answer to Question #301977 in History for Nickname

Question

How do leadership issues perpetuate the marginalization of women and minorities? (500-600 words) Please use 2 references and post it.

Answer 1

 There have been significant strides made by women in the workforce in most parts of the world. However, it has not been an easy task for them to earn top leadership positions in politics and even in business as compared to their male counterparts. There are several factors that have prolonged this trend, the factors could be sociocultural and individual. This paper discusses from leadership point of view as to why women and other minority groups have been continuously undermined in the positions mentioned above.

           Tracing back in time men have always been leaders even from the religious beliefs, this has led to a stereotype that associates leadership traits to the male and not seen as ideal when executed by women. Employers are biased to believing that men have an assertive behavior which means they are strong, commanding and unmoved, but the same traits protruded by women is judged as being aggressive, too pushy noisy. Sadly, also a professional woman that her traits satisfy traditional gender roles risks coming across less competitive than the male counterparts which means she cannot reach her potential.

           The nature of man whereby he believes he is the provider and for that reason needs to get out and fetch for his family has contributed to the males having a wide range of networking enabling them to win opportunities and find mentors and financiers to make alive their advancements. On the hand the old mentality where women were not known to be outgoing has up to today limited majority of them to come out for the fear of judgement by the society. Women play low when seeking promotion for the fear of victimization. The society teaches boys to take risks ‘like a man’ and act in a courageous way whereas girls are taught to act cautiously. Women also are not more into career development due to lack of confidence and fear of negative reactions.

           The society in most cases renders women vulnerable with the increasing cases of sexual harassment, gender-based violence, biasness and hostile work environments. Racism makes them even more feeble. All these factors make the pathway to leadership very hard for women. For instance, a professional lady being mistaken for an assistant during board meetings, is more likely to suffer low self-esteem and overall progress. The attitudes and biasness against women bars professional women from their deserved respect and opportunities. Such women have the burden of dealing with supervisors who have low expectations of them in almost all circumstances.

           Women play an important role in continuity of our generation by bearing children and as well play core responsibilities at our homes raising the children. Balancing work and the chores at home limits majority of women from venturing into leadership seats. To make it even worse is the fact that the workplaces are still caught up in the traditional notion of male and female domestic roles. Despite this responsibilities woman are not always accorded the right to paid family leave. This affects their profession in terms of advancement and financial muscle as it pushes them to the edge to the extent of making personal sacrifices such as taking unpaid leave, resigning to take care of family and downplaying their careers for flexibility.

           In the wake up of these challenges to female leadership, professional women need to erect strategies to help mitigate this state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

Kiamba31, J. M. (2009).

Women and leadership positions: Social and cultural barriers to success. Wagadu Volume 6 Journal of International Women's Studies Volume 10: 1, 89.

Haile, S., Emmanuel, T., & Dzathor, A. (2016).

BARRIERS AND CHALLEGES CONFRONTING WOMEN FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS: REVIEW AND ANALYSIS. International Journal of Business & Public Administration, 13(1).