Mental Templates of Leaders

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter proposes a multi-dimensional framework about how context molds mental templates of leadership and when women will be viewed as leaders. Context is both macro/national (extent of incorporation of women into government, national policy agenda, electoral rules, parliamentary or presidential democracy), and micro/individual (in-groups, family context). Extant literature yields assumptions about how these macro- and micro-level factors, role congruity, and gender stereotypes affect whether people have “traditional” templates (leaders are men), or templates where gender is not a central attribute of leadership. The chapter then presents the case selection for countries where an experiment measured evaluations of men and women as leaders across levels of posts, ability to win votes, and in diverse policy areas. The countries (in chronological order studied) are Costa Rica, Israel, Canada, Uruguay, England, the United States, Sweden, and Chile.