An investigation of female and male constructs of leadership and empowerment

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate female and male constructs of leadership and empowerment. Design/methodology/approach The paper describes the findings from two recent UK studies which investigated female and male constructs of leadership qualities. Findings Very different models emerged. The women's descriptors related directly to notions of transformational leadership, and the men's to transactional leadership. The implications for assessment practices are considered, as is the concept of empowerment, which is central to the notion of transformational leadership and fast becoming the organizational “buzz” word. Less obvious, and of particular concern are the observations that empowerment, like so many other values, is a gendered concept, and that beneath its attractive humanistic guise may be hidden a more sinister interpretation. Originality/value The paper offers insights into female and male constructs of leadership and empowerment.