Leadership Effectiveness and Gender

This research paper on the subject of Leadership Effectiveness and Gender attempts to conduct a focused amount of research to answer the question about the correlation between gender and leadership effectiveness. It specifically looks at the current definitions of leadership and looks at some historical background information relating to the more common theories that relate to leadership and effectiveness. It also delves into some of the more traditional leadership theories as well as some of the more modern day theories and attempts to identify why there is still a considerable absence in top military leadership by female officers. Of the 284 Air Force general officers on active duty today, there are only 7 females among them, for a 2% representation. My claim is that there is more of a hidden bias by men against women than there is a logical reason for this under-representation of women in the senior ranks. This paper focuses on this sensitive subject area, and hopefully raises readers' awareness of the presence of this bias that still exits today. This research was conducted by using a variety of current books and periodical articles on the topic of leadership and gender and effectiveness.