�Bitch in the boardroom� � Do women make good leaders or not?

Keletso Thobega | Thursday August 27, 2015 11:31

 

In an era when women have made impressive sweeping strides in educational attainment, entrepreneurship, representation in public office and a high workforce participation, its boggling to note that relatively few women have made the journey to high levels of political and corporate leadership.

There seems to be an invisible glass ceiling on the level of achievement women can take on, and as a society, we are still grappling to appreciate and accept that women can be excellent leaders. 

Stereotypes such as women being referred to as the ‘big swinging dick’ or ‘bitch in the boardroom’ are the norm for non-progressive thinkers who grapple with change. I don’t dispute that there are many lazy women out there, but for those who show ambition and drive for success and leadership, it can be a challenge to get to the top, they say.

Often time, the reasons for the relative scarcity of women at the top is often due to plain sexism, gender discrimination, resistance to change and the self-serving “big boys club”, that wants to dictate the terms and conditions of women’s success and achievements. 

One of my favourite movies is The Devil Wears Prada, which stars Meryl Steep, who portrays the horrid she-boss, Miranda Priestly. I don’t think Miranda was as a bad person – she was a perfectionist who wanted her charges to be the best at all times.

Is that too much to ask for? While the movie is intriguing fiction, it appears that some people are adamant that it’s a reflection of reality – that female bosses are evil and bitchy. Ha! 

Stereotypes such as women being referred to as the ‘big swinging dick’ or ‘bitch in the boardroom’ will always persist among people refuse to accept change and move with the times. 

Ironically, women are often stereotyped as being ‘bitches’ for doing their job, while men are perceived as just doing their job.

A colleague of mine recently asserted the point that as a woman, you have to always prove your mettle. As a woman, it’s harder to be good at what you do because you are good at it. If you are to be good, or the best, you have to ensure that you have many qualifications and accolades to prove yourself. 

Assertive, competitive personalities and qualities are often associated with men. Women who display these qualities are often ostracized, penalized and called unsavoury names. While women may make better leaders because they are more likely to be honest, hardworking, compassionate, empathetic, intuitive and creative, gender solidarity really does go far! 

On the flipside, some women are their own worst enemies. We have women who push agendas of women empowerment (propagate that women should be allowed to dream, do and be the kind of person they want to be), and that of chauvinist women who still have backward views of the role of women in society. 

Instead of supporting each other, they opt to backstab, spread rumors and try to block each other’s progress. These childish, fear-filled and jealous chauvinist females seem to be in cohorts with sexist men who derive joy from intellectually patronises, ridiculing and humiliating women. 

Over the past few years, I have spoken to and interviewed many women in leadership positions, and they shared sentiments that people will always have something to say about female leaders even when they are doing their job. It has nothing to do with their work ethic, but gender, which is unfair.

I recall I once interviewed one lady who held a high position in a financial firm here in Gaborone, and she made it clear that she is least bothered about people’s perceptions about her because she is doing her job, and that’s all that matters. What a great attitude to have! 

I have worked under four female bosses and two were ‘bitch in the boardroom’ material: jealous, insecure and petty, while the other two were supportive and ensured that I developed my skills and explored my talent, something which I remain grateful for.  

At the end of the day, great leadership is not about one being a man or a woman, but rather, their attitude and nature as an individual. (There’s no perfect leader; all human beings have flaws and weaknesses, of course.)

Gender has no bearing on emotions, intellect or conduct.