Study Finds Men More Willing To Promote Women Leaders Who Support The Status Quo

“The study’s finding that men are more likely to choose women leaders who will not “rock the boat” when it comes to gender equality reinforces the dilemma experienced by many women who are seeking leadership roles. Women who express communal support for women’s leadership advancement often reduce their individual chances for landing a leadership role.  – Michelle Travis

The Dilemma Facing Women Leaders

The study’s findings reinforce the tension that many women experience when seeking leadership roles. Woman may be highly committed to advancing overall gender equality in the workplace, but expressing their views can hinder their individual advancement opportunities.

“Challenging the status quo can carry costs for women’s leadership prospects,” the researchers explain. “Women who explicitly question the legitimacy of gendered workplace norms may be seen as confrontational or disruptive, undermining their chances of success.”

This risk is compounded by pervasive gender stereotypes that already associate men more readily with leadership. Business leaders are more likely to perceive men as “star performers” than women with comparable achievements, according to a 2024 study by researchers from the George Washington University School of Business and the IESE Business School. So top-performing women already receive less recognition than top-performing men.”

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“Organizations should examine whether they are implicitly rewarding adaptation to the status quo over constructive challenge,” said Derks. “That means auditing who gets selected and promoted, but also asking whether there is real room for difference, dissent, and change.”:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelletravis/2026/04/30/men-prefer-women-leaders-who-support-the-status-quo-new-study-reveals/

The study was published in a 2026 issue of the British Journal of Social Psychology by management and organizational psychology researchers from Belgium, the Netherlands and the U.K.