Masculinist Disciplinary Culture and Women's Leadership in STEM in Academia

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare gendered leadership expectations between two disciplines: biology and engineering, specifically women leaders in mechanical engineering and computer science engineering, sub-disciplines with similar disciplinary cultures (Becher & Trowler, 2001;Gibbons, 2009; Yoder, 2016). In doing so, I address how gendered experiences in a masculinist culture shape women's leadership styles. Women in both disciplines exhibited traits consistent with a collaborative style of leadership. The influence of masculinist culture, or cultures that favor men and devalue women, (Gunter, 2009; Katila & Merilainen, 1999; Maatta & Lyckhage, 2011), led women in both disciplines to believe they needed to toughen up to fit in. Yet women in both disciplines adopted or aspired toward an empathetic leadership style, of care and concern for others to push back against the masculinist culture. Women leaders in both disciplines experienced elements of a gendered organization, including the presence of an "Old Boys Club", lack of senior women mentors, the burden of service work, negative perceptions of leadership behavior, silencing and the inability to be heard.