How is the Embodiment of Women Leadership to Alter the Stereotypically Masculine Schema for Leadership? A case of Vietnam

• Main Author: Hoang, Lan Anh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: H. : ĐHQGHN 2020
• Subjects: Embodiment; Women leadership; Stereotype; Masculine
• Online Access: http://repository.vnu.edu.vn/handle/VNU_123/68455; https://doi.org/10.25073/2588-1108/vnueab.4308
• Institution: Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Nowadays, the perception on leadership has been different from traditional ones that used to align to agentic characteristics. However, for the top of mind, people normally think about masculine characteristics when referring to leadership concept. It could be so disadvantageous for female leaders that they can be trapped in the line between two perspectives: one for their nature characteristics, one for their changes to be suitable for stereotypical definitions of leadership characteristics. By in-depth interview with nine women in top management positions in Vietnam, the study aims to investigate how is the embodiment of female leadership to change the stereotypically masculine schema for leadership. An emerging finding is that women would not try to illustrate their appearance, competency as recommended in theory. Instead, they embody their leadership by bringing happiness for others, helping others to achieve high results, making others satisfied in their life and work. More importantly, they build up their followership with their sincere hearts, which is relevant to female instincts as caring, nurturing with their nature skills and warm heart. Accordingly, it turns to be a recommendation that women in their leadership should not blur their nature characteristics; instead, they should consider as their distinction strengths for their further development.