Under the influence: An examination of men's fears of women leaders

Abstract

Although the number of women leaders in organizations has increased, devaluation of women leaders by men is a persistent problem. The roots of this devaluation are typically discussed in terms of stereotypes and social hierarchy. In this article, I attempt to augment our understanding of this phenomenon by suggesting a psychological explanation, one that posits men's underlying fear of women as a source of devaluation. I draw from studies of men in psychotherapy and research on femiphobia (Kierski & Blazina, 2009) to flesh out the picture of how fears of the feminine still seem to affect men today. I then offer the psychological defense of devaluing and mistrusting those we fear as a tool for understanding male attitudes toward women leaders. Last, I review research on changing men's attitudes and offer a perspective on the modern workplace that integrates the social and psychological perspectives.