Women and Leadership

Rhode, a law professor at Stanford University, explores the morphing role of women in leadership positions across a variety of professions. She assumes that readers are familiar with the issues of unequal pay and the dearth of women in leadership roles. After briefly stating the facts, she moves on to asking why women remain so underrepresented and outlining the strategies that will help balance the scales. She argues that women, in general, are no longer deliberately discriminated against but face a different set of challenges now, including unconscious biases, favoritism, and combined work and family obligations that put them at a disadvantage. She also states that this issue most likely cannot be resolved at the individual level, so change must happen on a broad cultural scale. Rhode dedicates individual chapters to women seeking to rise in specific professions, including politics, management, law, and academia, and on corporate boards. She also explores the value of difference, the “gap between practice and principle,” and gender stereotypes. This book offers cogent and valuable advice for women interested in moving into leadership positions and for organizations looking to help pave their paths. (Nov.)