Attitudes toward Women Managers: Comparison of

Attitudes of Male and Female Managers in India

AUTHORS: Kaval Gulhati
INTRODUCTION:
This research was designed to explore the existence of stereotypical
attitudes towards Indian women managers. It was a replica of some of the
studies conducted in the United States and Taiwan using the WAMS (Women
as Managers Scale) to measure the attitudes of men and women towards
women managers.
INDIAN WOMEN MANAGERS AND SEX ROLE STEREOTYPING:
The findings with respect to male and female managers in India were
supportive of the earlier research reported in India, Taiwan and the United
States. Studies in India on sex role socialization and on negative stereotypes
about executive women had provided an indication that these stereotypes
might be as pervasive as in the United States. However, no practical
research had been carried out to measure the attitudes of men and women
managers towards women in management in India.
Until such a study was conducted, it was not possible to state categorically
that men had less favorable attitudes than women. The importance of these
findings lies in the insights they provide for policies relating to women's
advancement in their careers and to the directions for future research. The
results suggest that gender is the controlling variable that determines
negative or positive attitudes. It can be said definitively that women have
more positive attitudes than men.
Highly educated women have even more positive attitudes. What this means
in operational terms is that women see themselves as being as capable as
men in management positions, but the males see women as less qualified to
be managers. These are perceptions stemming from years of individual.
INFLUENCE ON OUR RESEARCH:
This research study helped us in designing our questionnaire. Because of this
study we provided two questions in our questionnaire:
1. Rate the professional behavior of your male co-workers towards you?
2. Is your relationship with your female co-workers similar to that of male
co-workers?