CONCEPTS OF WOMAN, SELF AND MANAGEMENT - A COMPARISON BETWEEN FEMALE MANAGERS AND FEMALE BUSINESS STUDENTS

In the present research the concepts of female managers and female bus iness students with respect to ''woman'', ''self'' and ''management'' are compared. Usually, it is assumed that female managers experience a permanent role-conflict because their concepts of ''woman'' and ''man agement'' should be more different given that these concepts are consi stent with social stereotypes. In general, female managers should have different concepts in comparison with students because of their daily experiences while female students aim to become managers but have lac king experiences. Female students should have concepts that are consis tent with social stereotypes (''woman'' is described as female ''manag ement'' as male); their concepts should be more pronounced different. By contrast, female managers should have more consistent concepts. The se hypotheses were tested. The results show that female managers and f emale business students have a similar ranking of the concepts; ''woma n'' is described the most female ''management'' the most male, the ''s elf'' is in between. In line with our hypothesis, female business stud ents have a more male concept of ''management'' and a more female self -concept in comparison with female managers.