Women CEOs have to overcome stereotypes
There are only 13 female ceos of all the fortune 500 companies and a 2007 report by Catalyst explains one reason why that might be. The report details some of the problems women still face in as they rise in the ranks in corporate america because of outdated stereotypes about how women are supposed to behave. Catalyst's report explains that women in leadership positions are face stereotypes about how they're supposed to act. They find that they aren't as free to pick their own leadership style as men and are held to different standards than men in their positions.
Women in leadership roles can't catch a break. The report says that when they act the way people expect them to by playing into female stereotypes; they're criticized for not being tough enough. When their leadership style falls on the other end of the spectrum and they're authoritative or forceful, catalyst says they're condemned for "acting like a man".