DOI: 10.32725/978-80-7694-102-1.26

Inproforum 2024 (vol. 18):179-187 | DOI: 10.32725/978-80-7694-102-1.26

Gender stereotypes among future managers

Andrea Svoboda^a, Lucie Kozlová^b, Ladislav Rolínek^a

^a University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Economics, Department of Management, Studentská 13, 370 05 České Budějovice 5, Czech Republic

^b University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute of Applied Health and Social Sciences, J. Boreckého 1167/27, 370 11 České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Gender role stereotypes in our society assign typical characteristics to men and women, which often complement each other as opposites, determining our expectations of individual women and men and our actions towards them in specific situations (Karsten, 2006). Gender inequality has been linked to humanity since ancient times. Sociological research at the beginning of the third millennium (CVVM Research November 2006) found that "gender conservatism", clinging to traditional views and gender roles, still prevails in the Czech Republic.
At the same time, empirical findings suggest that the Czech population is now generally in favour of gender equality in the area of reconciling work and family (i.e. an egalitarian model). But is this really the case in our Czech conditions and withinin Czech universities?
This paper is about the issue of future managers. Generations influencing or contributing to gender equality or inequality. The results summarize ideas about what men and women managers should be, what qualities they should have and what values they should cherish.
The data obtained through a questionnaire survey among students of bachelor's and master's degree programs of the Faculty of Economics of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice were evaluated using the semantic differential technique. It was found that the students' view of the female manager as well as the male manager is very balanced. The curves are around the mean values. There was a very slight disparity in creativity, charisma, leadership and planning and activity skills in the evaluation of women managers. On the other hand, there is a marginally noticeable improvement in the view of traits for control ability, tolerance and empathy. For male managers, there was a slight negative trend for some traits. These are control ability, empathy and loyalty, humility, openness and assertiveness, sense of humour and motivation. Slightly positive developments occur for composure, charisma and communication. It was found that students are not influenced by stereotypical ideas about the managerial position. The overall view reveals the balance of opinion of students in all the necessary characteristics of a manager.

Keywords: gender stereotypes, women and men managers, student´s generation influencing gender equality or inequality, qualities and values of managers

Published: January 11, 2025  Show citation