PAVING AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE - GENDER DIFFERENCES IN MANAGERIAL NETWORKS

This research uses the network-analytic concepts of homophily, tie str ength, and range to explore gender differences in characteristics of m iddle managers' information and career support networks. When the effe cts of position and potential for future advancement were held constan t, women's networks were less homophilous than men's. Women high in ad vancement potential, however, relied to a greater extent than both hig h-potential men and less high-potential women on close ties and relati onships outside their subunits. On the basis of these findings, we sug gest that different types of networks may provide alternative routes t o similar career resources for men and for women.