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Does Leader Character Have a Gender?

Author

Listed:
  • Gouri Mohan

    (IESEG School of Management)

  • Gerard Seijts

    (Western University)

  • Ryan Miller

    (Western University)

Abstract

Virtues and character strengths are often assumed to be universal, considered equally important to individuals across cultures, religions, racial-ethnic groups, and genders. The results of our surveys and laboratory studies, however, bring to light subtle yet consistent gender differences in the importance attributed to character in leadership: women considered character to be more important to successful leadership in business than did men, and women had higher expectations that individuals should demonstrate character in a new leadership role. Further, the gender of the research participant affected character ratings such that male respondents viewed a female leader who exhibited agentic behaviors in a professionally challenging situation less positively than a male leader who displayed the same agentic behaviors. The data also showed that male participants rated almost every dimension of character displayed by the female leader lower than did female participants. Our findings suggest that the question as to what extent gender differences may bias the assessment of virtues and character strengths is an important one, and one for which the practical implications for individuals in organizations need to be studied in more detail.

Suggested Citation

  • Gouri Mohan & Gerard Seijts & Ryan Miller, 2023. "Does Leader Character Have a Gender?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 169-186, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:188:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05313-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05313-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martijn Hendriks & Martijn Burger & Antoinette Rijsenbilt & Emma Pleeging & Harry Commandeur, 2020. "Virtuous leadership: a source of employee well-being and trust," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(8), pages 951-970, February.
    2. David A. Matsa & Amalia R. Miller, 2011. "Chipping Away at the Glass Ceiling: Gender Spillovers in Corporate Leadership," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(3), pages 635-639, May.
    3. Martijn Hendriks & Martijn Burger & Antoinette Rijsenbilt & Emma Pleeging & Harry Commandeur, 2020. "Virtuous leadership: a source of employee well-being and trust," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(8), pages 951-970, February.
    4. John J. Sosik & Jae Uk Chun & Ziya Ete & Fil J. Arenas & Joel A. Scherer, 2019. "Self-control Puts Character into Action: Examining How Leader Character Strengths and Ethical Leadership Relate to Leader Outcomes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(3), pages 765-781, December.
    5. David Bright & Bradley Winn & Jason Kanov, 2014. "Reconsidering Virtue: Differences of Perspective in Virtue Ethics and the Positive Social Sciences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(4), pages 445-460, February.
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    8. Lucas Monzani & Gerard H Seijts & Mary M Crossan, 2021. "Character matters: The network structure of leader character and its relation to follower positive outcomes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-25, September.
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