Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Campus Center Auditorium [A45]

How Experiences of Gender Bias Within the Field of Law Shape Women’s Leadership Development, Approaches, and Outlook

Presenter: Brenna Ann Howes

Faculty Sponsor: Zaur Rzakhanov

School: UMass Boston

Research Area: Business & Economics

ABSTRACT

According to the World Economic Forum, the gender gap is projected to take 123 years to close based on current progressions, bringing up to the year 2158 (World Economic Forum, 2025). Amid shifting political attitudes toward DEI initiatives, this topic becomes even more prevalent. This gender dynamic is even reflected in recent political events, where public perceptions of leadership competence appear to be influenced more by gender dynamics and biases rather than objective qualifications and ethical considerations. These outcomes demonstrate how deeply rooted gender dynamics and biases are to our society and our conceptions of leadership with traditional notions of masculinity. This study will draw heavily on role congruity theory, which argues that the perceived mismatch between stereotypical female gender roles and leadership expectations results in two forms of prejudice: (1) women are viewed as less suitable than men for leadership positions, and (2) women who display leadership-consistent behaviors are evaluated more negatively than men exhibiting the same behaviors. Building on this framework, the study will examine how these experiences and manifestations of role congruity theory provide nuance to women’s leadership approaches, strategies, and perspectives within male-dominated fields. My research will include interviewing female professionals at different stages of career development and asking in depth questions that illustrate the story of these professionals' career progressions, their experiences and challenges, and how it has shaped their motivations, development, strategies, approaches, and overall outlook on leadership in a male-dominated field. 

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