Evidence‐loving rock star chief medical officers: Female leadership amidst COVID‐19 in Canada

Abstract

This article presents a feminist poststructuralist inquiry perspective on how news and social media discourse around the COVID‐19 pandemic is presenting a potential shift in hegemonic representations of masculine leadership. I am informed by organizational rules and sensemaking theories, and consider how Canadian and international female leaders are showing resilience, emotion and vulnerability as they help lead their countries through these uncertain times. I reflexively ground my observations in my own sensemaking and personal experiences. Despite reservations, I am hopeful. There are indications that the ‘rules of the game’ are starting to be challenged, and feminine frameworks that question traditional gender roles are disrupting conceptions around ‘business as usual’.

Mulheres no comando

“…Assim, ainda que o contexto brasileiro atual seja de turbulências sociais e nas relações de trabalho, ocasionado principalmente pela crise sanitária do Covid-19, compreende-se que é na diversidade das liderançase aqui é destacada a liderança femininaque se pode alcançar uma gestão mais assertiva para as organizações brasileiras, ou seja, que tenha comunicação eficiente, tomada rápida de decisões e demonstrações de empatia (CHERNESKI, 2020;STEINMETZ, 2020). Nesse contexto, pesquisas futuras acerca da liderança feminina podem percorrer por três níveis de análise (SOBRAL;MANSUR, 2013).…”

Light in the midst of chaos: COVID-19 and female political representation

“…Reports praising German Chancellor Angela Merkel's science-based response, widespread testing, transparency, stringent social distancing policies, travel restrictions, and relational appeals to the public to induce compliance 6 and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s clarity, compassion, strict national lockdown, travel restrictions, and pervasive testing ( Mahdawi, 2020 ) 7 have fostered the narrative that female executives have more effectively, efficiently, and impressively handled the coronavirus pandemic ( Cherneski, 2020 ). Whether a function of over competence, the disproportionate hurdles women need to overcome to be elected in the first place, or a disposition to seek out advice from experts in moments of crisis, the contemporary dynamics suggest that female world leaders are handling the virus in an impressive manner ( Mahdawi, 2020 , Yancey-Bragg, 2020 ).…”

“…Substantiating Grown and Sánchez-Páramo’s fear, recent reports indicate that the coronavirus has hit economic sectors with high female employment shares (e.g. the service and “essential worker” sectors) especially hard, intensified women’s domestic responsibilities, and increased violence against women ( Alon, Doepke, Olmstead-Rumsey, & Tertilt, 2020 , Bahn, Cohen, & van der Meulen Rodgers, 2020 , Campbell, 2020 , Cherneski, 2020 , Gausman & Langer, 2020 , Graves, 2020 , Grown & Sánchez-Páramo, 2020 , O’Donnell, Peterman, & Potts, 2020 , Wenham, Smith, & Morgan, 2020 ). These consequences may be especially pronounced for women of racial and ethnic minority groups, who bear the brunt of enforcement sanctions, job losses, and the adverse public health effects of the virus itself ( Kirby, 2020 ).…”

“…Shortly thereafter, Merkel adopted stringent social distancing policies, mandated the closure of schools and retail businesses, limited public gatherings, and operated with travel restrictions ( Blackburn & Ruyle, 2020 ). In an effort to induce compliance with these policies, Merkel “asked citizens to consider how their behavior impacts those they love” ( Cherneski, 2020 ). As a result, the number of daily confirmed cases in Germany has, at the time of this writing, diminished both in terms of the number of daily confirmed cases and deaths.…”

“…In late-March, one month after New Zealand’s first reported case, New Zealand implemented a strict national lockdown that closed schools and non-essential businesses, banned social gatherings, and mandated a 14-day self-isolation period for travelers entering the country ( Blackburn & Ruyle, 2020 ). Ardern evoked compliance by compelling the country’s citizens to ‘be kind to each other’ ( Cherneski, 2020 ). As a result, New Zealand was, as of mid-June 2020, considered to be coronavirus free.…”