Sex Differences in the Perception of Assertiveness Among Female Managers

Abstract

Women managers in the United States are often confronted with conflicting expectations of compliance and assertiveness. The present study focused on one aspect of this double-bind—men's and women's perceptions of the assertive woman. To investigate this question, source credibility scales were employed with open-end questions. In a laboratory setting, 93 mixed-sex subjects observed a target assertive woman and responded on a paper and pencil survey. Men reported positive perceptions of assertive communication in women. Women, however, reported negative perceptions of assertive women.