Gender, authentic leadership and identity: analysis of women leaders’ autobiographies

Abstract

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‘Female Heroes’: Celebrity Executives as Postfeminist Role Models

“…Researchers agree that celebrity executives are highly influential in promoting certain managerial trends and/or leadership styles (Guthey, Clark and Jackson, 2009;Halsall, 2016;Huczynski, 2007). Similarly, as discussed previously, female celebrity executives promote certain desirable gendered behaviours and attitudes associated with achieving success (Adamson, 2017;Kapasi, Sang and Sitko, 2016). As role models are not chosen and cannot be seen in isolation from the social context (Fisher, 1988), we theorize female celebrity role models in business against the backdrop of a 'postfeminist sensibility' (Gill, 2007(Gill, , 2016Gill, Kelan and Scharff, 2017) to see how and whether the ideals they construct map against these dominant cultural discourses about gender.…”

“…Exploration of autobiographies and other cultural genres is still unusual in management and organization studies, but such analysis is growing (Halsall, 2016;Kapasi, Sang and Sitko, 2016;Phillips and Rippin, 2010;Sims, 1993;Watson, 2009;Wilhoit, 2014) and has the potential to contribute significantly to our understanding of the socio-cultural basis of gender workplace inequality (Adamson, 2017;Dempsey and Sanders, 2010). Exploration of autobiographies and other cultural genres is still unusual in management and organization studies, but such analysis is growing (Halsall, 2016;Kapasi, Sang and Sitko, 2016;Phillips and Rippin, 2010;Sims, 1993;Watson, 2009;Wilhoit, 2014) and has the potential to contribute significantly to our understanding of the socio-cultural basis of gender workplace inequality (Adamson, 2017;Dempsey and Sanders, 2010).…”

“…We also wish to thank Alison Collins for proofreading and editing the paper. Interestingly, a number of businesswomen who have made it to the top -for instance, executives like Sheryl Sandberg or Karren Brady -have recently gained a celebrity-like status and widely share their experiences and advice on how women can become successful (Kapasi, Sang and Sitko, 2016;Metz and Kumra, 2018). Dasgupta and Asgari, 2004;Latu et al, 2013;Lockwood, 2006;Sealy and Singh, 2010;Singh, Vinnicombe and James, 2006).…”

“…Dasgupta and Asgari, 2004;Latu et al, 2013;Lockwood, 2006;Sealy and Singh, 2010;Singh, Vinnicombe and James, 2006). Interestingly, a number of businesswomen who have made it to the top -for instance, executives like Sheryl Sandberg or Karren Brady -have recently gained a celebrity-like status and widely share their experiences and advice on how women can become successful (Kapasi, Sang and Sitko, 2016;Metz and Kumra, 2018). However, to date little is known about the significance of such business celebrity role models and their potential to redress the under-representation of women in management and leadership.…”

Experiences of women leaders in non-profit organizations in northern BC.

“…The women also discussed the important role that mentors and role models had on their decision to lead (Fine, 2009). This emphasis on important others is supported by other research (Hertneky, 2012;Kapasi, Sang & Sitko, 2016). In discussing their practice of leadership, the women emphasized open communication and the importance of working as a team (Fine, 2009).…”