Gender, status, and leadership

More than a trait of individuals, gender is an institutionalized system of social practices. The gender system is deeply entwined with social hierarch y and leadership because gender stereotypes contain status beliefs that ass ociate greater status worthiness and competence with men than women. This r eview uses expectation states theory to describe how gender status beliefs create a network of constraining expectations and interpersonal reactions t hat is a major cause of the "glass ceiling. " In mixed-sex or gender-releva nt contexts, gender status beliefs shape men's and women's assertiveness, t he attention and evaluation their performances receive, ability attributed to them on the basis of performance, the influence they achieve, and the li kelihood that they, emerge as leaders. Gender status beliefs also create le gitimacy reactions that penalize assertive women leaders for violating the expected status order and reduce their ability to gain complaince with dire ctives.