The Role of Leadership Efficacy and Stereotype Activation in Women's Identification with Leadership

Abstract

The primary goal of this research was to examine the role of leadership efficacy as a moderator of domain identification responses to the think-leader-think-male stereotype. Manipulating stereotype activation, results from eighty-five female participants indicated that women with high levels of leadership efficacy demonstrated a heightened identification with the leadership domain after exposure to negative stereotypes compared to the control condition (a reactance response); stereotype activation did not significantly alter domain identification in women with lower levels of leadership efficacy. The results are discussed in terms of both their practical implications and their theoretical significance.