College student followers: An exploratory study on the motivations, expectations and perception of followers as affected by their gender in following a female leader using a certain type of leadership

• Main Authors: Chen, Mara Karmela L., Datingaling, Fatima Monica I., Reyes, Criselda Janine B.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Leadership; Organizational behavior
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/8143
• Institution: De La Salle University

This research focuses on the preference of both male and female followers for following either a female autocratic leader or a female democratic leader. Furthermore, the followers' motivations, expectations and perceptions in following either a female autocratic leader or female democratic leader were also investigated. Results show that male and female followers prefer following a female democratic leader significantly more. The themes that emerged from the data were: The characteristics of leaders in general, female leaders in general, autocratic and democratic leaders. Motivations, perceptions and expectations from each type of leader were also a common subject. Followers follow a leader when the leader is executing a type of leadership that the follower would adapt if given a chance to lead. Followers follow an autocratic leader because the autocratic leader is perceived to be efficient and professional. On the other hand, followers follow a democratic leader because the democratic leader encourages freedom, is perceived as being flexible and supportive and democratic leaders make their followers feel important. Followers do not follow autocratic leaders because there is a lack of freedom under an autocratic leadership. Followers are discouraged to follow democratic leaders because they are too nice or too merciful. Followers expect that being under an autocratic leader would yield quality results. There would also be some limitations when it comes to participation. For democratic leaders, followers expect that the democratic leader would allow growth and development and with this, there would be good interpersonal relationships within the group. For female leaders, followers expect that there would be better outputs compared to male leaders.