Female Leadership Theories

Barbara Sveva Magnanelli () and Elisa Raoli ()
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Barbara Sveva Magnanelli: John Cabot University, Business Administration Department
Elisa Raoli: Catholic University of Sacred Heart, SEGESTA

Chapter 3 in Female Leadership and Motherhood, 2026, pp 29-52 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter examines the principal theoretical frameworks that explain the persistence of gender disparities in leadership, focusing on how social norms, stereotypes, and institutional structures shape women’s access to and experiences in positions of authority. Drawing on Role Theory, Social Role Theory, and Role Congruity Theory, the chapter illustrates how gendered expectations create misalignments between culturally prescribed feminine traits and the agentic behaviours typically associated with leadership, producing a double bind that limits women’s advancement. The analysis also incorporates the “Think Manager-Think Male” paradigm, which highlights enduring cognitive biases linking managerial competence to masculinity, and the Glass Ceiling Theory, which exposes the subtle, structural barriers that continue to impede women’s progression to top roles. Finally, Feminist Leadership Theory is presented as a transformative framework that challenges hierarchical, male-typed leadership models and promotes inclusive, collaborative, and justice-oriented approaches to organizational power. Together, these theories provide an integrated lens through which to understand not only the systemic roots of gender inequality in leadership but also the opportunities for cultural and institutional change capable of reshaping leadership norms and enabling more equitable participation.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-24990-6_3

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-24990-6_3

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