Culture clash- Female leadership
“Female leader in the face of other cultures”
A Norwegian and Mexican study
Abstract
Today women fulfil 2/3 of all the work in the world, but only earn 10% of the salaries. Women stand for half the food production, but only own 1% of the cultivable land. Half of the student graduates are women. They get good grades and they constitute for almost half of the qualified people in the labor market. Even though, the unemployment rate for women is a lot higher than for men.i In many countries it is the culture of the people or the firm culture that makes it difficult for educated, skilled women to obtain work that corresponds with their resources. During the economic crisis more women than men in the UK lost their jobs. This is because mostly women are working in the sectors that had a lot of cut back, such as the public sector which obtain 65% woman.ii There is a big distinction between women obtaining positions in the upmost layers of an organization than men. So is it possible to change an organizational culture to value and promote gender equity? In all, can a culture which is male dominant change? Some cultures are more gender equal, and others less. Even though in general when people shall define what a good leader is, almost all the attributes will be of male characteristics.
Introduction
In 2008 Norway got the number one spot in “The Global Gender Gap” report on equality between the sexes.iii Norway was also the first land to introduce the law that says that at least 40% of governmental and non-governmental boards must be occupied by women. Norway is actually an example of a country, with its own political will, that has a social welfare policy that promotes equality between the sexes. This can give the impression that Norway is more or less a gender equal society. The newly elected prime minister in Norway is a woman, and the second of her kind. Women make up almost 50% of the Norwegian Government. In 2006, 3.5%
A Norwegian and Mexican study
Abstract
Today women fulfil 2/3 of all the work in the world, but only earn 10% of the salaries. Women stand for half the food production, but only own 1% of the cultivable land. Half of the student graduates are women. They get good grades and they constitute for almost half of the qualified people in the labor market. Even though, the unemployment rate for women is a lot higher than for men.i In many countries it is the culture of the people or the firm culture that makes it difficult for educated, skilled women to obtain work that corresponds with their resources. During the economic crisis more women than men in the UK lost their jobs. This is because mostly women are working in the sectors that had a lot of cut back, such as the public sector which obtain 65% woman.ii There is a big distinction between women obtaining positions in the upmost layers of an organization than men. So is it possible to change an organizational culture to value and promote gender equity? In all, can a culture which is male dominant change? Some cultures are more gender equal, and others less. Even though in general when people shall define what a good leader is, almost all the attributes will be of male characteristics.
Introduction
In 2008 Norway got the number one spot in “The Global Gender Gap” report on equality between the sexes.iii Norway was also the first land to introduce the law that says that at least 40% of governmental and non-governmental boards must be occupied by women. Norway is actually an example of a country, with its own political will, that has a social welfare policy that promotes equality between the sexes. This can give the impression that Norway is more or less a gender equal society. The newly elected prime minister in Norway is a woman, and the second of her kind. Women make up almost 50% of the Norwegian Government. In 2006, 3.5%