Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Chapter 15 – Gender and Leadership
Discussion Questions and Exercises
1. Why is the scholarly question “Can women lead?” now moot? What are the current research
questions being asked? Do you agree with these question changes and why? Give a personal
2. In what ways are women’s leadership experiences like a labyrinth?
3. Several metaphors are used in the text to describe women’s experience in leadership: glass
ceiling, labyrinth, glass escalator, glass cliff, and jungle gym. Which of these is most fitting in
your view? What other metaphors can you propose that describe women’s organizational
leadership experience?
4. Which evidence of the leadership labyrinth is most compelling to you—women’s representation
in higher education, business, or politics? Why?
5. In what ways does the leadership labyrinth apply to other nondominant groups?
6. Discuss the strengths of the three types of explanations for the gender gap in leadership (human
capital, gender differences, prejudice). What evidence have you observed for each of these
explanations? Are there generational differences in how women and men perceive women’s
underrepresentation in high-level leadership positions?
8. Summarize the empirical research on gender differences in leadership style and effectiveness.
9. Summarize the motives for removing the barriers in the labyrinth. Do you agree/disagree with
this section’s research and argument? Give an example that supports your position.
10. What does bridging the leadership gap involve? What factors have converged to contribute to
leadership effectiveness and the rise of female leaders? Give examples from your own experiences
11. Various studies show that working women still do more of the child care and household
chores than men, though they are moving toward parity (Eagly & Carli, 2007). What evidence do
you see of either trend in your workplace or campus?
13. Complete the gender-leader implicit association test and interpret the results. What was the
result on the associations that you made? Give specific examples from your personal experiences
14. Do you agree that understanding research into gender and leadership will help promote more
women into the upper echelons of leadership? Why or why not?