The relationship between gender role stereotypes and requisite military leadership characteristics

The continuing emphasis on the need to utilize fully women's leadership skills in traditionally or predominantly male environments highlights the need for understanding gender stereotypes and leadership characteristics perceived to be associated with various jobs. This study essentially replicates Schein's research ( 1973, 1975) to determine the extent of gender stereotypes held by military students for military leadership positions. The results indicate ( 1) continued disparity in men's perceptions of the similarities between women and leaders, ( 2) support of previous findings that women recognize similarities between women and leaders, ( 3) senior military students possess stronger masculine gender role stereotypes of successful officers than do students with less than 1 year of service in the military academy, ( 4) greater experience with being led by female leaders did not affect men's masculine gender role stereotypes of successful leaders, and ( 5) successful female cadet leaders perceive successful officers as having characteristics commonly ascribed to both women and men. These results are interpreted in light of previous research on gender roles and leadership, and the practical implications for meeting organizational, and individual objectives for successful utilization of women in military leadership positions are discussed.