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Name: Charmagne Erika G.

Padilla culture is aimed at controlling and/or


The Position Paper transcending nature, women end up with an
Topic: Feminism inferior symbolic position. The challenge for
women in taking on leadership roles is to reclaim
Hypothetical Proposition: If females are and redefine the accepted stereotypes.
physically weaker than males, then they are not A woman leader stimulates a different
capable of leadership. reaction than a male leader because of learned
expectations, shaped and supported by the
Definition of Terms: surrounding social structure, that invalidate and
Weaker - not strong or fit: not physically fit or undercut women’s attempts to be effective,
mentally strong; lacking skills or abilities: not influential, and powerful. Because of perceived
having particular skills or abilities. incompatibility between the requirements of
Leadership – is the influencing process of leaders femininity and those of leadership, women are
and followers to achieve organizational objectives often required to “soften” their leadership styles
through change. to gain the approval of their constituents. Since
they are stereotyped as less competent than
Arguments: men, women would-be leaders are sometimes
When people think about leadership, advised to avoid feminine modesty and promote
images of powerful dynamic individuals who their own abilities, strengths and
command victorious armies, shape the events of accomplishments. Women face the most
nations, develop religions, or direct corporate resistance to their leadership and influence in
empires come to mind. Researchers have long roles that are male-dominated and characterized
found that people think “male” when they think as masculine
“leader,” and that this result transcends many As women lead, they are changing
cultural differences. But what is a leader? And leadership; as they organize, they are changing
what makes a great leader? A leader is somebody organization. When women lead and articulate
whom people follow; who guides and directs their purposes, it seems that they work together
others. The traits that a great leader typically not only as individuals but with a sense of
possesses include a sense of power, great community and networking in a healthy way.
negotiating skills and lots of charisma. However, Women have fresh and imaginative skills of
a leader always has the ability to influence dialogue and are setting a more open, flexible,
others. Leaders and followers influence each and compassionate style of leadership. Studies
other because all people are potential leaders. have shown that women leaders are better
Influencing is so important that it is called the communicators, have better social skills, are
essence of leadership. more tolerant, more willing to adapt to change,
Historically, gender prohibited most better organized, better at motivating others and
females from becoming leaders in organizations; less bound by social traditions; skills essential for
as a result, the assumption that males were effective leadership.
better suited than females for leadership roles If only something could be constructed to
was, until recently, rarely questioned. Men have supply the right social environmental conditions
traditionally been more involved in combat and in socializing the young and in ‘re-educating’ the
war than women—successful male warriors were old, all men and women could become equal-
held in high status in many societies. That female because they could all become, in principle, the
were selected as leaders were viewed as being same.
more effective in maintaining positive
relationships within the group may reflect Truth or Falsity of Hypothetical Proposition:
females’ traditional roles as peacekeepers and The hypothetical proposition is false.
wanting to preserve group order. Such Women are capable of leadership. Though studies
engendered leadership is a long-term of human have proven that women indeed are the
evolutionary history that still affects the way physically weaker sex, this is not the sole
people evaluate and respond to leadership in essential requirement for an effective leader.
society today. Only stereotypes and gender bias hinders women
Generally, women tend to be identified in leadership.
with nature while men tend to be identified with
culture. This is so because in bearing children Conclusion:
women create new ‘things’ naturally, while men I agree that women are capable of
are free/forced to create culturally. Women are leadership. I believe that what only challenge
also in result, more confined to the household females from becoming leaders are the generally
and raise children. Since human beings accepted stereotypes prevailing in almost all
everywhere rank their own cultural products nations that males were better suited in
above the realm of the physical world, as every leadership roles. Males and females are the
same, though they have different styles in
leadership, both are potential and capable
leaders.

References:
Kelber, M. (1994). Women and Government; New
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Lussier, R. & Achua, C. (2004). Leadership:
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Paul, E.(2002). Taking Sides: Clashing Views on
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(2nd Edition). Guilford Connecticut:
McGraw-hill Companies, Inc.
Renzetti, C. & Curran, D. (1992). Women, Men,
and Society. Needham Heights, MA:
Simon&Schuster, Inc.
Yuval-Davis, N. (1997). Gender and Nation.
London: SAGE Publications Ltd.
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October 30). Gender Bias: When Groups
Fight Other Groups, Male Leaders Sought;
But For In-group Conflicts, Female Leaders
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16, 2009, from
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Leadership.html
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