The gender of the work environment: the experiences of women managers in male-dominated occupations in perceived masculine and feminine environments

Purpose – Different work environments offer various experiences for women managers in male-dominated occupations. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of workplace gender (feminine/masculine) on the leadership style, social capital level and visibility of women managers in male-dominated occupations. Design/methodology/approach – This study was conducted by using qualitative research methods. A content analysis was used to analyze 53 interviews with women managers in male-dominated occupations. Findings – Four themes were identified and aggregated into two patterns of practices of women in male-dominated occupations. The aggregated themes indicate that the women managers in perceived masculine environments typically use a task-oriented leadership style and tend to stand out, relying mostly on personal and external social capital. On the other hand, women managers in male-dominated occupations, who work in perceived feminine environments, typically use a relationship-oriented leadership style and prefer to integrate, relying mostly on personal and intra-organizational social capital. Originality/value – The perceived gender of the work environment for women in a male-dominated occupation plays a significant role in management practices and career paths. These findings enrich and expand gender and management theories, explaining how different environments can lead to different outcomes.