A study published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes in 2023 found that women are perceived as less charismatic than men in workplace settings, even when displaying identical behaviors. The research, led by Dr. Elizabeth McClean at the University of Arizona, involved experiments where participants rated the charisma of male and female leaders delivering the same speeches. Results showed that male leaders were consistently rated higher on charisma, a trait linked to career advancement and influence.
The study's findings highlight a double bind for women: they are expected to be warm and communal, but charisma often involves assertiveness and dominance, which can be penalized in women. This bias may contribute to the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, as charisma is often associated with effective leadership. The research controlled for speech content, tone, and delivery to isolate the effect of gender.
These results align with broader research on gender bias in the workplace, such as studies showing that women's contributions are often undervalued in team settings. The authors suggest that organizations should be aware of these biases and implement structured evaluation criteria to reduce their impact.
