Feminist theory as it relates to business leaderhip content : a case of patriarchal dominant society structure

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This study is an exploration of the business leadership content that exists to serve as a resource for the development of the leadership role, the performing of that role and the overall application of acquired skills for the betterment of an organization. By examining the current literature available on the feminist theory and its role in the development and distribution of information on women in the workplace, women in entrepreneurship, and the societal norms developed and maintained through the masculine lens, this study aims to better understand the resources available to the female leader. Therefore, the research question is expressed as: have business magazine leadership articles demonstrated a rhetorical shift from 1994 to 2019 to meet the unique needs of the female leader? When examining the feminist theory agenda in research, the focus tends to be on the balance of women in business through the lens of corporate social responsibility, the varying roles between men and women as they relate to current societal hierarchies, and the overall experiences women have at work. The available literature suggests significant gaps in the study of women in leadership and women in the workplace, especially as it relates to feminist theory and the availability of content that is targeted specifically to the female leader and the unique challenges she experiences. This study seeks to add to the body of knowledge on the feminist theory and how the practical application of the findings can improve the development and availability of content for women in business leadership.