Gender bias has long been an issue in society, and regrettably, it still seems to exist among young adults. Studies have demonstrated that young adults, both male and female, exhibit bias towards female leaders, despite growing attempts to promote gender equality and diversity. This discrimination can appear in several ways, such as preferring male leaders over female leaders or considering female leaders as less competent and authoritative. Such biases may have detrimental effects, such as sustaining workplace discrimination against women and impeding their advancement into leadership positions.

An annual international study called the Reykjavik Index for Leadership measures how people view female leaders, and this year's results are unfavourable for female executives.

What's most concerning is that younger generations hold fewer progressive views on women in leadership positions than their parents or grandparents, according to the report.

Key Findings

The survey, conducted by Kantar Public, a public policy and consulting firm, and Women Political Leaders, an advocacy group, polled more than 10,000 people in 14 different nations.

For the first time since they began compiling data in 2018, perceptions of female leaders decreased in 2017. Less than half of respondents (47%) in the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—said they were very comfortable having a woman as the CEO of a big corporation in their nation, down from 54% a year earlier.

Also, CEOs were thought to be more qualified for leadership than female politicians. Compared to 52% in 2021, only 45% of G7 members said they would feel very comfortable having a woman lead their nation. Women showed significant bias against their own sex, despite men's slightly more positive perception of female leaders than that of women.

A striking generation disparity was also shown by the survey results. Younger individuals (ages 18-34) in the US and the majority of the other countries surveyed had the least progressive attitudes on leadership and gender. Younger generations are substantially less likely than older generations to believe that men and women are equally qualified for leadership roles.

Why Young Adults are biased against Female Leaders

The study, according to Michelle Harrison, worldwide CEO of Kantar Public, doesn't explain the reasons behind the generational divides or the decline in opinions of female leaders. She still thinks it might be connected to the present economic climate. "We know that people regress to safer locations during times of economic hardship," she explains.At these times, people might feel safer returning to more traditional roles, such as having men in positions of power.

One reason young adults may be biased against female leaders is that they have grown up in a society that has typically placed men in positions of leadership. Men have traditionally dominated leadership positions, including those held by politicians and business executives. As a result, many young adults could unintentionally link masculinity with leadership and think that women are less qualified to perform these jobs.

The way that male and female leaders are portrayed in the media may also have an impact on young adults. Male leaders are frequently portrayed in television programmes and motion pictures as powerful, decisive, and confident, while female leaders are portrayed as sentimental, indecisive, and less authoritative. These prejudices may affect how young adults view leadership and gender, increasing the likelihood that they will favour male leaders over female ones.

Stereotypes persist despite efforts to advance gender equality, such as the idea that men are more suited for leadership roles than women. Nonetheless, care should be made when evaluating how these assessments affect the selection or election of female leaders. When presented questions like the ones in this study concerning female leaders in general, psychologists have discovered that people are more likely to apply prejudices. Nevertheless, people are much less likely to utilise stereotypes when questioned about a real-life female leader they are familiar with. That's because we are less inclined to stereotype someone the more we know about them.

Nonetheless, it is evident that misconceptions about female leaders influence the opinions of prospective voters and workers everywhere. And there is no question that these biases have an impact on elections, employment choices, salary disparities, promotions, and regular micro-aggressions.

Positively, one tiny nation offers as a fantastic example, showing that progress towards gender equality is feasible. More equality was displayed by Icelandic citizens than by citizens of any other country surveyed.

Iceland does a lot of things right when it comes to gender equality. In addition to becoming the first nation to enact equal pay laws in 2018, it was the first nation in the world to directly elect a female president. Because of the government's support for parents, it is simpler for women to find employment after having children.

Harrison claims that it also has to do with Icelanders' tenacious efforts to defy social norms. Iceland is "It is acknowledged that it is a work in progress. That requires ongoing effort,” she claims.

Harrison thinks that there are other ways to address gender bias in societies that desire to lessen it. It is crucial to make sure males have enough opportunity. "We must take care of boys as well, so they can develop into confident men. There is no hope for gender equality in society if we don't get it right with young males,” she says.