Powerful Leadership: An Analysis of Gendered Response to Fashion

Abstract

Since millennials constitute a major part of the workforce, it is necessary to understand the traits that characterize them. By examining their perceptions of leadership and gender, this study aims to determine what kind of leader millennials deem effective and useful. To measure the gender roles of respondents, this study employed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI). Leadership was examined through the preferred gender of leaders, leadership power, and fashion sense. Data were collected through a survey of 249 undergraduate students born between 1990 and 2000. Results demonstrated that female millennials favored female leaders as much as male leaders, indicating that both were recognized as equally effective leaders. Results related to gender roles showed that the femininity score of male leaders was higher than female leaders, suggesting that millennials favored androgynous male leaders who are authentically embracing. Furthermore, millennials were more likely to perceive a female leader’s fashion sense, although this did not correlate with leadership. Therefore, the value placed on a leader’s fashion sense was distinct from previous generations’ views which regarded fashion sense as a critical clue to judging female leaders’ qualities. The findings provide a guidline to the qualities that are vital to millennials.