Transformational and Transactional Leadership: From the Gender Lens

Abstract

This paper aims to review the literature on gender differences in leadership styles, focusing on transformational and transactional leadership. The theoretical backgrounds of transformational and transactional leadership and gender differences in leadership style are reviewed. Previous studies have found mixed results regarding the differences and similarities between men’s and women’s leadership styles. Four factors have been found to lead to these results: (1) the context of the study, (2) the evaluator’s identity, (3) team composition, and (4) culture. The paper hopes to shift researchers’ focus from documenting the differences and similarities to exploring and digging deeper into the causes of these differences and similarities. Based on this, the paper suggests exciting directions for future research.