Women Lead the Way

2 Modern Myths and Stereotypes

Forewarned is forearmed. Understanding the facts on women’s current roles and challenges will start you on the journey to being a leader shaping events. You will understand, be able to challenge, and help dispel some self-reinforcing cultural attitudes left over from eons of history during which men have been recognized as the power figures.

Close your eyes and imagine a “leader.” What do you see? Extensive studies show that in the United States, the visual image for almost everyone is a man. The higher-level the leader is imagined to be, the more likely this is to be true. Despite the presence of “first women,” we are still perceived as Outsiders to leadership—sometimes even by ourselves.

This may seem strange, ...