The Leader,She: Dynamics of a Female-Led Self-Analytic Group

Abstract

The dynamics of self-analytic, or learning groups, are understood in terms of the leader as male. Since males and females are socialized into different roles in our society and these roles are differently valued, it was questioned whether the dynamics of this type of group would change if the leader were female. The data used to explore this question were gathered in a university course, Group Dynamics, in which the nominal leader was female. In the early life of the group there was a certain amount of denial that the leader was female. This was aided by the stereotype of the professor-leader being male. As the group progressed, this effect diminished. One interesting difference in the dynamics of this female-led group was that the males and not the females "killed" the leader, as has been found in male-led groups. Other trends which appeared were lessened competition in the group, a feeling of castration and/or powerlessness on the part of some of the males, and some differences in the hero role.