Women in management: gender stereotypes and students' attitudes in Greece

Abstract

Purpose

Women are vastly underrepresented in corporate Greece. One widely accepted explanation for this situation is the negative stereotypes about women as managers. Given the apparent influence of business students' stereotypes on future discriminatory behaviour toward women in management, and given the dearth of empirical research on this issue for the Greek case, this study aims at measuring and assessing gender‐based attitudes of surveyed students.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted involving 323 undergraduate students majoring in business administration at the University of Macedonia, Greece.

Findings

The main finding is that business students' attitudes toward women in management are primarily shaped by their own gender. This study, employing the Women as Managers Scale, found that male business students hold relatively negative stereotypic attitudes compared to their female counterparts. In addition, it was found that gender was by far the most influential factor in accounting for the difference in attitudes. No significant differences on other sample characteristics such as age, work experience and cooperation with female supervisor were detected.

Research limitations/implications

Further research to extend the current investigation to full‐time employees and managers would allow for a more articulated discussion of the main sources of influence on stereotypical attitudes toward women in management.

Originality/value

Given the dearth of empirical research on stereotyping and women's career prospects in Greece, this study contributes to debates in the wider academic community on the issue of analyzing empirically stereotypic attitudes toward women as managers.

Citation

Mihail, D.M. (2006), "Women in management: gender stereotypes and students' attitudes in Greece", Women in Management Review, Vol. 21 No. 8, pp. 681-689. https://doi.org/10.1108/09649420610712054