WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN INDIA: THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE

ABSTRACT

This study examined how Indian male and female managers perceived and used leadership styles and civility techniques in professional settings. The employment of politeness strategies and male and female leadership styles have been heavily researched in the Western context, but this research is lacking in the dynamically changing Indian setting, where society has historically been hierarchical and very paternalistic. The number of Indian women holding executive roles in the workforce has steadily increased, creating new linguistic settings. The purpose of this study is to increase public understanding of both the potential and difficulties that women managers encounter in patriarchal societies.

This study shows that gender stereotypes still exist in the workplace in India because it is thought that female leadership goes against patriarchal culture and traditional religious beliefs. Gender stereotypes, patriarchy, and religious beliefs continue to devalue, degrade, and limit women. On the other hand, female managers excelled at presiding over meetings. Despite the dual roles that Indian women were required to play as mothers, wives, and professionals, they outperformed male managers. This shows that gender roles are evolving and that the paternalistic society of Indonesia is being influenced by global factors.