Reading the face of a leader: women with low facial masculinity are perceived as competitive

Published in: Academy of Management Discoveries - September 2016

Written by

Raphael Silberzahn and Jochen Menges

Summary

What we found: We found that masculine faces are differently perceived for men and women in competitive situations. In contrast to men, having a masculine face is less important for women when rating their competitiveness. This is because low facial masculinity in women is not only linked to being cooperative, but also to competitiveness.  

Why it matters: While past research suggested that having a masculine face is beneficial for both men and women in competitive situations, our research shows that facial masculinity matters less for women than for men. Women with less masculine faces were not only perceived as cooperative, but also as competitive. 

What next: When selecting future leaders, organizations should be aware that one’s appearance influences the way we think about them. Recognizing this effect may help organizations to ground their decisions on more solid indicators such as skills or performance when selecting future leaders.