Scientists from the University of Toronto have done a study, based on data from a 2005 national telephone survey in which they looked at the degree of stress in three situations: one male boss, one female boss or the combination. Their study has shown that women who work for a female boss have to deal with more stress than those who work for a men. Admirably those results aren't valid for men. Male employees experience the same stress level, whether they work for a male or a female.
The findings are contrary to earlier studies which suggest that demographic similarities between a boss and his subordinate advance the harmony at the workfloor.
Study author Scott Schieman brought up some possible explanations for this contradiction. First he points at the stereotype that a male leader is "normal". What he means is that we find it quite reasonable for a man to be "aggressive" while we expect a woman to be more sensitive. A second possible explanation can be found in the nature of the job itself.
Yaël Claeys
Yaël Claeys
