Gender Bias in Leader Selection

Abstract

In this classroom exercise, students experience how stereotypes can result in biased leader selection and learn some introductory information about task-oriented competitive and social cooperative leaders. Students are placed in initially leaderless, mixed-sex (two men, two women) groups and asked to select leaders in preparation for a group activity. Half of the groups receive instructions that focus on competition; the other half receive instructions that emphasize cooperation. Overall, a disproportionate number of men are selected as leaders, substantiating past research that shows gender stereotypes guide individuals in selecting leaders. However, this bias appeared only after task-oriented competitive instructions. Men and women were selected as group leaders equally often after receiving social cooperative instructions. Questions that probe these findings are provided for class discussion. Students find this simple demonstration to be provocative, and they indicate that it helps them understand difficult concepts.