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The position of women managers in Britain is addressed and the relevant issues for the 1990s are discussed. While it seems relatively easy for women to gain employment at the lower levels of organisations, it is still proving very difficult for them to reach upper middle and senior management positions. However, in view of impending demographic changes and probable European Community directives on equal opportunities from 1992, it is visualised that the next decade will provide an enormous opportunity for working women, particularly those in business and management.

An examination of styles of management with comparisons of 124 female and 95 male managers. Shows that there are two defined parts of leadership behaviour. Investigates the findings of a Leader Behaviour Questionnaire on management styles and shows the six major differences between genders. Concludes that more research is needed to explore and confirm the study results, which at present show that women, rather than men, managers are more likely to exhibit an effective team management style suited to today′s pace and style.

With more women now working than ever before, there is also an enormous growth in younger women's entering many of the formerly male‐dominated jobs, including the field of management. In the USA, with the strongest legislation affecting the employment of women, 23.6 per cent of managers and administrators are women, followed by the UK with 18.8 per cent. Even so, in the UK, the occupations in which women are most likely to be managers are traditionally female occupations such as retailing, catering and personnel. At senior levels of management there are fewer women and only 8.3 per cent of general management jobs are held by women in Britain.

A major research study investigating the problems and pressures associated with being a female manager in contrast to male managers, is described, along with the relationship between these pressures and their effects on the managers themselves. The research implications of the findings are also presented, with special emphasis on training needs and organisational policy changes that are required. A model of occupational stress is presented, comprising pressures faced by female and male managers at work, at home and socially, individual influences, and the effects these pressures have in terms of behavioural (e.g. work performance, alcohol intake) and psychosomatic stress symptoms (e.g. headaches, anxiety, etc).

A survey carried out to determine British management’s attitudes to sexual harassment in the workplace is presented. Definitions of sexual harassment and the extent to which legal recommendations are recognised and adopted are outlined. The survey also investigates whether and, if so, what preventive action is being taken and the manner in which complaints of sexual harassment are being handled.

Examines a recent managerial sex typing research project. Results show that it is still very difficult for women to reach top managerial jobs and those who do are very much in the minority. The “glass ceiling” appears to be still intact although women are gaining some “middle” ground. Posits that “think manager – think male” should become “think manager – think qualified person!”

Reports research by interview and questionnaire survey designed to identify major sources of stress among site managers, to examine their physical and psychological well‐being, and to identify high risk groups and predictors of stressor outcomes. A high level of anxiety was found, independent of grade; this was predicted by role insecurity, work overload and other extrinsic factors (particularly travel). Identifies lack of management training in this industry as contributing to these stresses. Recommends stress audits and stress management workshops.

Previous US research has consistently revealed females reporting lower pay expectations and entitlements compared to their male counterparts. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether these gender differences still exist, specifically in British and Australian business students, or whether there has been a generation shift in attitudes.

Quantitative data were analysed from 481 (252 females and 229 males) university students, on their responses to what they “expected” to earn five years after graduation and what they thought they “deserved” to earn. Students from two British universities (n=285) and two Australian universities (n=196) participated.

Results revealed that the presence of very high values (outliers) reported by a small proportion of male respondents led to apparent gender differences in perceived entitlement (deserved salary). However, appropriately modified analyses showed no significant gender differences in expected salary, deserved salary or salary difference. Differences were observed between countries; in the UK expectations and views on deserved salary were higher than those expressed in Australia. In addition, in both countries' students from higher ranking universities expected higher salaries and believed they deserved a higher salary.

The sample is restricted to University business students and may not generalise to other groups.

Implications of these findings reflect on gender pay inequities, along with methodological issues for future research.

This paper challenges the long‐held view that, in general, males have more positive expectations of their future salaries than females. While this has been reported in the past, the paper illustrates that in a contemporary sample across two countries, the great majority of male and female students had very similar expectations for their future salary. The paper proposes some explanations that may account for this phenomenon. The only clear gender difference observed was the presence of a small proportion of males with extremely high salary expectations; the paper highlights the necessity for appropriate statistical analysis of such highly skewed data.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the positive and negative effects of gender and ethnicity in relation to discrimination and the problems encountered in accessing social support (including emotional and instrumental support).

Qualitative data were collected through in‐depth interviews with 40 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) female small business owners based in north west England. The main aims and objectives of the study were to: investigate the discriminatory experiences of BAME female small business owners related to their gender and ethnicity; and to identify the forms (formal and informal) and types (emotional/instrumental) of social support available in relation to their entrepreneurial activities that enabled them to cope with and overcome, the discrimination they may encounter.

Over half of the respondents in the study had experienced discriminations because of their gender, ethnic background or both. This was attributed to a number of factors, including stereotypical images of specific ethnic cultures, religions and practices. Many respondents reported difficulties in accessing different types of formal social support, e.g. formal business and financial support. Informal support by respondents' families was reported as a key source of both emotional and instrumental.

This paper is just a starting point for this area of research and, because the sample covers women from a variety of BAME backgrounds, it is not possible to generalize the findings to the wider population of BAME women. However, it does give an indication of what issues need to be considered in the provision of instrumental support for BAME women small business owners.

The paper shows that a key element in the development of a strategy for addressing the needs of the BAME female small business owners is the necessity to appropriately re‐design mainstream business support systems and financial services, in order to provide these women effective access to formal social support.

The experiences of BAME small business owners have received little attention and this paper offers a unique insight into the relationship between social support, gender, ethnicity and business ownership.

Research in indigenous small business entrepreneurship in Australia is sparse. This paper aims to provide a review of the available literature culminating in a comprehensive model of characteristics, motivations and potential barriers to entrepreneurial activity.

The paper takes the form of a literature review.

“Push” factors were predominant as motivators for setting up business ventures and were strongly linked to the desire to improve severe disadvantage through very poor economic situations and negative racial stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice as well as addressing the needs of their community. Potential barriers to business development included lack of formal education, prior work experience, language barriers, culture conflicts and problems attaining sufficient finance. Female indigenous entrepreneurs faced both gender and racial discrimination.

This paper concludes with some suggestions on future research and government and policy directions to encourage indigenous Australian entrepreneurship as a means of economic development for this population.

The paper presents a unique comprehensive review and model of both male and female Australian indigenous entrepreneurs.