Women and Power in Organizations

Abstract

Men have power in organizations that women often lack. Investigates generally men′s and women′s employment, job segregation, and part‐time employment. Discusses the barriers to women′s progress. The first barrier is the role women have been socialized to adopt, for example, passive. The second is lack of support including limited financial resources, education and training, lack of child care arrangements, networks, role models, mentors and domestic constraints. A third barrier is attitudes such as employer biases, negative perceptions of women, attribution of female behaviour and use of language. Suggests how women could gain more power. Positive action is required within schools to encourage girls to pursue non‐traditional career plans. Further awareness of the problems arising from sex stereotyping is needed. Through mentoring women could have access to the power network. However, peer mentoring can be an egalitarian alternative for women. Discusses the importance of assertiveness training for women.

Citation

Lahtinen, H.K. and Wilson, F.M. (1994), "Women and Power in Organizations", Executive Development, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 16-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/09533239410058828