Through the Labyrinth

The Truth About How Women Become Leaders

Alice H. Eagly, Linda L. Carli

• Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
• Year: 2007
• eBook ISBN: 9781633690233
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Leadership
• Index: Business

Despite real progress, women remain rare enough in elite positions of power that their presence still evokes a sense of wonder. In Through the Labyrinth, Alice Eagly and Linda Carli examine why women's paths to power remain difficult to traverse. First, Eagly and Carli prove that the glass ceiling is no longer a useful metaphor and offer seven reasons why. They propose the labyrinth as a better image and explain how to navigate through it. This important and practical book addresses such critical questions as: How far have women actually come as leaders? Do stereotypes and prejudices still limit women's opportunities? Do people resist women's leadership more than men's? And, do organisations create obstacles to women who would be leaders?This book's rich analysis is founded on scientific research from psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and management. The authors ground their conclusions in that research and invoke a wealth of engaging anecdotes and personal accounts to illustrate the practical principles that emerge. With excellent leadership in short supply, no group, organisation, or nation can afford to restrict women's access to leadership roles. This book evaluates whether such restrictions are present and, when they are, what we can do to eliminate them.

Table of contents

• Preface and Acknowledgments
• Chapter One: Is There Still a Glass Ceiling?
• Chapter Two : Where Are the Women Leaders?
• Chapter Three: Are Men Natural Leaders?
• Chapter Four: Do Family Responsibilities Hold Women Back?
• Chapter Five: Is Discrimination Still a Problem?
• Chapter Six: What Is the Psychology of Prejudice Toward Female Leaders ?
• Chapter Seven: Do People Resist Women's Leadership?
• Chapter Eight: Do Women Lead Differently from Men?
• Chapter Nine: Do Organizations Compromise Women's Leadership?
• Chapter Ten: How Do Some Women Find Their Way Through the Labyrinth?
• Chapter Eleven: How Good Are Women Leaders and What Does Their Future Hold?
• Notes
• References
• Author Index
• Subject Index
• About the Authors