Racial/Ethnic Diversity and Female Leadership: A Look at Nations, Organizations, and Teams

In this chapter, we bring together the literature on the effects of racial/ethnic diversity in countries, organizations, and teams with the literature on gender and leadership. First, we investigate how the effects of racial/ethnic diversity — that is, increases in perceived complexity, sense of threat and perceived need for change, desire for cooperation rather than competition, and heterogeneity of beliefs about gender roles — might enhance the likelihood of women’s selection and emergence into leadership positions. Second, we review research suggesting how female leaders may positively affect outcomes and performance for both majority and minority members in diverse settings through their symbolic presence, leadership styles, and policy choices and attitudes. We conclude by suggesting future research directions that could provide further evidence for the influence of female leadership in diverse settings.