Female bosses are often hindered by gender stereotypes, which can directly impact their ability to do their jobs, according to a new University of Georgia study.

The researchers found that women in leadership roles can feel limited in their positions of power because of societal gender norms that pressure them to be more docile than their male counterparts.

Support and affirmation from their direct reports can make a difference in those feelings, however.

“Women are expected to have to behave in a pliant way, so for female leaders, we found it’s more difficult for them to engage in instruction, to set expectations and to tell others what they need to do because of these stereotypes,” said Joanna Lin, lead author of the study and a W. Richard and Emily Acree Professor of Management in the UGA Terry College of Business. “If we don’t fix this, there will be fewer women leaders and less effective workplaces.”

Read more at: https://news.uga.edu/women-constrained-by-gender-stereotypes-in-leadership/