Evolution of Female Leadership: Invisible Barriers and Simulations of Equality

Abstract

This study is part of the research project “Female Leadership and Its Organizational Barriers to Its Development” which contributes to sustainable development goal number five, gender equality. In this case, three variables are addressed: misogyny, glass ceilings and tokenism, social phenomena, and stereotypes that female leadership has experienced. The objective is to analyze the evolution or transformation of the barriers, walls, and simulations (tokenism) that women experience and that limit their leadership development, as well as how female leaders have overcome them as barriers to their leadership.

In this case, the evolution in the last four decades of how misogyny, glass ceilings and now tokenism are manifested is analyzed. The research is carried out from a qualitative approach, as part of the field research, the technique of two “focus groups” was used with profiles of female leaders who have overcome.

The study reflects how female leadership development continues to be limited in its growth and development by various factors and stereotypes, as well as tokenism practices at all levels of women’s work performance. In this case, the case studies are presented in high-level positions and the aforementioned inequality phenomena occur.