The gender leadership gap: insights from experiments

This chapter offers insights from lab and lab-in-the-field experiments that help to understand the gender gap in leadership, and measures that might close that gap. We examine the literature addressing labour market outcomes more generally, as well as research that focuses more closely on leadership, per se. More specifically, we start by summarizing gender differences in preferences that are related to women’s willingness to lead. We then consider the selection of women as leaders and gender differences in perceptions, beliefs, and behaviour contributing to the leadership gap. We also address the literature on stereotypes and discrimination, which play important roles in the evaluation and selection of women leaders. Finally, we discuss possible interventions and their effectiveness, policy directions, and future research.