It seems since the beginning, women have had to struggle to be taken seriously. Some men still blame women for the mess in which humans find themselves. In their defense, this statement is always heard, “Even though God created men first, He had to create women to correct His mistakes.”

If women are limited, as many times labeled, why in the world would men follow them around the world and give up kingdoms for their presence?

In 2000 the Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trend Study of leadership traits found that the public values characteristics such as honesty, intelligence, compassion, and creativity. In these areas, women far outranked men. In the area of “performance skills” within public office, women scored better in each of the four categories: working out compromise, keeping government honest, representing the people’s interest and standing up for what they believe. In the area of “policy matters” men fared better in dealing with crime and public safety and with national security and defense. But they were again overwhelmingly outranked by women in dealing with social issues.¹

In surveys, studies, and performance evaluations (other than opinion surveys) from late 2000, at least 12 Western firms concerned with gender and leadership management found support in the overall results of the Pew Research. These companies, in summary, agree with Robert Kabacoff, Vice President of Management Research Group, that “female managers were graded more effective by peers and subordinates, but bosses still judged men and women equally competent as leaders.”²

Dr. Alice Eagly, top scholar on gender and leadership, shows in her studies that women are more likely to possess the leadership qualities that are associated with success. Women care more about “developing their followers. They listen and stimulate people to think and are more inspirational and ethical.”³

So, what seems to be the problem? Clearly the research studies should carry significant weight in companies and organizations in their hiring and promoting practices. For men, the issue seems to be the self-serving “good old boy” network.

Regardless of the research, the myth still lingers that men are naturally better leaders. The problem could be in the definition of “leader.” Men usually call other men in charge of anything “leaders.” Women, however, who run the household, are teachers, principals, nurses, office managers, and many other professions drop to a level of “just doing their job.”

Men, over the years, have seen leadership as “taking charge” – “command and control.” More and more, thankfully, this view is fading. Women, wanting to succeed in the workplace historically decided to “lead” like these men, sacrificing their areas of strength: compassion, creativity, and risk-taking.

Men and women should lead with their strengths. Women climbing the promotional ladder trying to lead like men sell themselves short. Men, on the other hand, reacted to this by treating the women as men. It cost the women the loss of chivalry. “You dropped it, you pick it up!” “Open your own door!”

Another related area that has been heavily researched is “sexual harassment.” Studies now show a much deeper motivation for this phenomenon. A University of Minnesota study led by sociologist Heather McLaughlin discovered, “the strongest evidence to date supporting the theory that sexual harassment is less about sexual desire than about control and domination. Male co-workers, clients, and supervisors seem to be using harassment as an equalizer against women in power.”⁴ In more conservative models with stringent statistical controls, women supervisors were 137% more likely to be sexually harassed than women who did not hold managerial roles.

By definition, “leader” means “to lead or guide.” Anyone who influences others in any capacity can be called a leader whether that influence is positive or negative and whether they are male or female. As followers of Jesus, “serving” is a paramount characteristic of leadership. While there have always been secular leaders that practiced servant leadership, it is refreshing to know that now it is becoming a prevalent trend in the secular workplace.

What does this mean in the believing community? If confessing church-goers have a historically negative view of women as leaders in almost every culture, then their children will continue to mature with questionable views of women’s capabilities. When CEOs, upper management, pastors, and religious workers see those that are forceful and assertive as the only ones qualified as leaders and women are just “compassionate and cooperative,” the workplace is in trouble. This evaluation of gender is a stereotypical, uneducated perception.

Power and control is very evident in the religious community as a major problem within the pastoral sector. Christian Leadership magazine consistently brings this issue to their readers. Articles for pastors and missionary leaders remind them of the slippery path of their position that becomes more about power and control, authority and obedience, than their relationship with employees and members.

Is God continuing to shatter the glass ceiling? By consistently “surprising” research are we in the believing community consciously or unconsciously trapped by our own cultural grid concerning women? Are we, without considering it, acting in Biblical disobedience, withholding the opportunity for women to become all that God intended them to be?

It is not without design that Scripture records the significant role of women in the believing community. Consider Esther, Rebecca, Mary, Martha, and the seller of purple, Priscilla, to name a few. With only a cursory reading on the life of any of these women we know that they were true leaders by definition.

Scripture is clear about relationships. Several key commands level the playing field.

“neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).
“…through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13).
“…love the Lord your God with all your heart… and your neighbor as yourself” (Lk 10:27).
“…servants of a new covenant” (2 Cor 3:6).
“…love one another…” (Jn 13:34).

Many men and women who walk in faith, walk depending on the power of Christ in them. We walk through life as a servant to the people in our area of influence. Walking into the business office, regardless of position, CEO or janitor, or attending our place of worship as a member, worker or pastor, we ALL walk as servants. In the power within – Jesus – we walk as a role model, as a child of the King. The only difference is the context where we serve and the job description. We must not confuse God’s gifting and talents with the role and context of when and where we serve.

The passage on relationships in Ephesians 5 and 6 is very basic to those committed to Scripture. It is clear that the concepts of Jesus’ and Paul’s words concerning “serving each other” and “care for one another” are of utmost importance. It does have a possible assumption we may miss. It assumes that the models of relationships between genders in both the family and the marketplace would be discussed or observed before an impending contract of marriage or business. It is quite a leap of faith to think that all the relational commands, especially the ones concerning husbands and wives, are accomplished with “I do.” We know that every relationship is a process. Is not this process meant as well to men and women in companies, churches, and organizations?

Every man wants a Proverbs 31 woman, whether they have read the passage or not. However, many men do not seem to want to acknowledge her ability in the workplace. And as the records show, they certainly do not want to pay her accordingly.

What would happen in these places of business and the home if men and women practiced these commands of caring, loving, and serving? The Proverbs 31 woman is a woman of competence, responsibility, diligence, and leadership. It says of her husband, “…he praises her…” and he “…trusts in her…” To walk this path of obedience toward trust and service, one first must be aware that their cultural or personal attitude may need changing. Men would no longer be threatened or jealous of a woman because he now begins to honor her, recognizing that she has qualities he needs outside the bedroom and the kitchen. A woman would feel free to be a woman who leads from her strengths, without thinking she needs to perform like a man.

This level of leadership manifesting this type of love and care for each other would be a great magnet for a serious spiritual awakening.

References:
1. “Men or Women: Who’s the Better Leader?” Social & Demographic Trends: PewResearchCentre. August 25, 2008. http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/708/gender-leadership (accessed May 10, 2010).
2. Gogoi, Pallavi. “As Leaders, Women Rule.” BusinessWeek. November 20, 2000. http://www.businessweek.com/archives/2000/b3708145.arc.htm (accessed May 10, 2010).
3. Carli, Linda, and Alice Eagly, Through the Labyrinth. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2007.
4. Walter, Laura. “Study: Female Supervisors More Susceptible to Sexual Harassment.” EHS Today. August 10, 2009. http://ehstoday.com/safety/news/female-supervisors-sexual-harassment-5042/index.html (accessed May 11, 2010).

Dr Roy Thompson and his wife Bonita reside in Bangkok, Thailand. Roy’s ministry involves working with business and government leaders in Southeast Asia, and creating a safe place to talk about Jesus. Bonita, with a Thai partner, ministers to prostituted and at risk women and children by providing a holistic outreach program in a residential center known as “Home of New Beginnings.” The Thompson’s have a daughter who directs a violence prevention program in one of the inner cities in California.

The New American Standard Bible has been referenced.