Women Leaders

Synonyms

Gender and leadership; Gender diversity in leadership; Glass ceiling; Leaky pipeline; Women in management

Introduction

Perhaps the most important issue relating to women leaders today is that although they represent half the population, women continue to be dramatically underrepresented within leadership roles around the world. Women’s underrepresentation in leadership worsens toward the top of almost any organizational, governmental, or educational power structure. The underrepresentation of women in leadership is of critical importance due to the fundamental roles leaders play in relation to society. Leaders within business, law, government, education, and other arenas determine laws, make decisions about what consumers will see on shelves, and help to define societal norms. As a result, women’s continued underrepresentation as leaders presents an important ethical issue. This entry reviews factors related to women’s underrepresentation within leadership.

Background

Within...