The Better Boss, Male Or Female?

Researchers at the University of Toronto used data from working adults in the U.S. and compared the stress levels and physical health problems of men and women working in one of three situations: for a lone male supervisor, a lone female supervisor, or for both a male and female supervisor, MSNBC reports.

The study found that:
Women who had only one female boss reported more psychological distress and physical symptoms like headaches than women who worked for one male boss.

Women who reported to a mixed-gender pair of supervisors also reported more of these symptoms than their peers who worked for a single male boss.

Men who worked for a single supervisor, regardless of the supervisor’s gender, had similar levels of distress.

Men who worked for a mixed-gender pair had fewer mental and physical symptoms than those working for a lone male supervisor.

The analysis was controlled for occupation, job sector and other workplace conditions, meaning the results were independent of these factors. The findings, specifically those of female subordinates with females bosses, contradict theories suggested by previous studies that demographic similarities between a boss and their subordinate would promote harmony in the work place, while demographic differences would create problems, according to the study.

The researchers speculated that these contradictions may stem from the stereotype that it is more “normal” for men to be leaders and display the typical leadership characteristics.

Coauthor Scott Schieman, said, “So while female subordinates may expect more aggressive traits from a male leader, they could expect more support from a supervisor who is also female than they actually get. Another possibility that could account for the finding is that it’s something about the nature of the work itself influencing these differences.”