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HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL

MLD-324M: WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP

Fall 2014

Faculty: Professor Barbara Kellerman

Office Location: Center for Public Leadership, Taubman, #158

Phone: 617-495-7570

Email: barbara_kellerman@harvard.edu

Office Hours: By appointment; email Professor Kellerman directly in order to set up.

Schedule of Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11:40 to 1:00 PM

Classroom: L382

Class Dates: First class is Tuesday, October 21; last class is Thursday, December 4.

Faculty Assistant: Catherine Kearns

Office: Center for Public Leadership – Taubman 141E

Phone: 617 495-7573

E Mail: catherine_kearns@hks.harvard.edu

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Course Description:

This course is designed to provide students with a general interest in leadership with

ideas, information, and insights that pertain to women and leadership in particular. It does not

intend, directly, to train women to become leaders, or even, depending on the circumstance, to

become better leaders than they already are. Rather it is based on the assumption that knowing

about women and leadership will impact on how wisely and well power, authority, and influence

are exercised - by women and men.

In recent decades, women in America and elsewhere have made great strides. But in spite

of the fact that women now outpace men in educational achievement, so far as women and

leadership is concerned, progress has been slow to nearly nonexistent. Of the 196 countries in the

world only 21 are led by women; similarly women hold only approximately 20 percent of

parliamentary seats. Further, in the U. S. they head only about 4.6 percent of Fortune 500

companies, hold only about 17 percent of board seats, and constitute only about 19 percent of

elected congressional officials. For women of color the gap is worse. They hold only 3 percent of

board seats, and 5 percent of congressional seats. Along similar lines, women make up only

about 15% of equity partners in law firms, and only about 16% of medical school deans. The

figures in other areas of employment, such as financial services and technology companies, are

even worse.

These then are the assumptions on which this course is based: that women have had and

still do have far less access to leadership roles than men; that the reasons for this diminished

access are numerous and complex; that as a simple matter of equity women should have greater

access to positions of leadership in the future than they did in the past; and that so far as

leadership is concerned, women have challenges that uniquely are theirs. I might note that

though the subject of women and leadership has been part of the collective conversation for the

last ten to twenty years, it persists in its power to impassion. As we will see, the recent debate on

the subject between Anne- Marie Slaughter on the one hand and Sheryl Sandberg on the other,

was a reminder of how unsettled still the situation.

The module will be divided into three parts. To begin we will place the subject of women

and leadership in an historical context. Issues pertaining to women/leadership seem somehow

singularly current – and in some ways they are. But at the same time they are embedded in a

pertinent past, with which it is important to be at least somewhat familiar. The second part of the

course will consider women in the different contexts within which power, authority, and

influence are exercised. They include the different sectors (business, government, etc.), as well

as different groups and organizations, and different cultures, nations, and other reference groups.

While we cannot in six weeks do justice to the complexity of context, we can sensitize ourselves

to the importance of contextual intelligence and expertise. Finally the course will be experiential.

It will draw on your personal/professional experiences, as they reflect present challenges and

future opportunities.

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Three concluding notes: First, while most of the available materials on women and

leadership are based on the American experience, the course will of course be multicultural in its

orientation. Students from countries other than the United States are encouraged to bring to this

class the benefit of their own background and experiences. Second, all students who enroll in the

class should recall that our focus is on women and leadership particularly, rather than on women

generally. While all gender issues relate to all other gender issues, the constraints of time require

that we stay specific. Finally, my own work is in leadership, in followership, and in context. So

students should be aware that so far as I am concerned leadership is not, or it should not be,

leader-centric. Rather leadership is a system with three equal parts – leaders, followers (or

others), and context - that are, simultaneously, independent and interdependent.

Course format:

I like a lively classroom, so the course will be conducted seminar style. Our time together will

consist of lectures, questions and answers, debates and discussions, presentations and problem

solving. I anticipate a fortuitous mix of information and invention, each of the participants

learning not only from the experts but from the information and experiences of each other.

Course Requirements:

First, it is expected that each student complete all of the readings, and participate actively in the

class discussion, at least in so far as class size will allow. In general, to “participate” is to

contribute, in class, to the collective conversation. All students will be asked to form small

groups; in turn, each group will be asked to lead one half of one class session. Some students will

also be invited to give a presentation, based on their case study.

Second, students are asked to submit on Thursday, November 13 a four to six page paper (typed,

double-spaced) that addresses a single question raised by the class readings and/or class

discussions. A handout on short papers will be provided; it will clarify the parameters of the

assignment, and indicate in general terms what a good short paper for this particular class should

look like.

Third, students are asked to submit on the last day of class, Thursday, December 4, a second

paper, eight to ten pages in length. This second paper will be a case study based on a single

personal/professional experience, as it relates to and reflects the themes of this course.

A handout on case studies will be also provided; it will indicate what is to be included in, and

excluded from, the case study, and also how more generally the case should be approached.

Both papers should include a brief list of endnotes and/or a brief biography. And both papers

should be submitted to the instructor in hard copy.

Course Grading:

Students will be evaluated on the basis of:

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The vigor and competence of their oral participation

The ambition and competence of their written submission

Grades will be determined in approximate accord with the following percentages:

Participation – 40%

Papers – 60% (first paper 25%; second paper 35%)

Final Notes:

First, the use of all electronic devices is prohibited during class. Second, in the event that you

must arrive to class late or leave early, please inform me in advance of the session. Third, on the

remote chance that you have to miss more than one class, please explain your situation to me.

Fourth, the syllabus that follows should be considered final. However, small adjustments might

still be made, either at my initiative or yours. Fifth, the syllabus is only a starting point; feel free

to conduct your own research, introduce your own materials. Finally, feel similarly free to

contact me at any point with any questions or concerns. I am always available by e mail and also

to meet, by appointment.

Course Readings:

The following books are recommended (not required) and available for purchase at the

Harvard COOP:

o Barbara Kellerman and Deborah Rhode, Women and Leadership: State of Play and

Strategies for Change (Jossey-Bass, 2008).

o Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli, Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How

Women Become Leaders (Harvard Business School Press, 2007).

o Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (Knopf, 2013).

o Joan Williams and Rachel Dempsey. What Works for Women at Work: Four Patterns

Working Women Need to Know (New York University Press, 2014),

All books cited above are also on reserve at the HKS Library. All other readings (with

CWP indicator) are posted on Course Web Page.

The following web sites should be perused from time to time:

www.catalyst.org;www.cawp.rutgers.edu; http://www.familiesandwork.org;

http://www.womenscampaigninternational.org; and http://www.emilyslist.org/

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The following hyperlinked articles are also recommended:

o Anne-Marie Slaughter, “Yes, You Can,” New York Times Book Review, March 10,

2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/books/review/sheryl-sandbergs-lean-

in.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

o Andrew Ross Sorkin, “Women in a Man’s World,” New York Times, April 3, 2013.

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/women-in-a-mans-

world/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

o Mark Scott, “To Meet Norway’s Goals, A Crash Course in Serving on Boards, New

York Times, April 3, 2013. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/to-meet-

norways-quotas-a-crash-course-in-board-business/

o Dev Patel, “Law School Coalition Aims To Mitigate Campus Gender Disparities,”

Harvard Crimson, March 28, 2013.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/3/28/hls-coalition-gender-disparities/

o Katie Koch, “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pantsuit,” Harvard Gazette, April 5, 2013.

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/04/sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pantsuit/

o Tara Siegal Bernard, “In Paid Family Leave, U.S. Trails Most of the Globe,” New

York Times. February 22, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/your-

money/us-trails-much-of-the-world-in-providing-paid-family-

leave.html?pagewanted=all

o Dina Medland, “Women and the Workplace -Fundamental Change Could Take ‘at

Least a Generation,” Financial Times. February 20, 2013.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9be82ad4-7438-11e2-80a7-

00144feabdc0.html#axzz38IwU8mFt

o Jody Greenstone Miller, “The Real Women’s Issue: Time,” Wall Street Journal,

March 9-10, 2013.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324678604578342641640982

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o Peggy Drexler, “The Tyranny of the Queen Bee,” Wall Street Journal, March 2-3,

2013.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323884304578328271526080

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o Rupert Wingfiield-Hayes, “Japan: The Worst Developed Country for Working

Mothers?”, BBC New Magazine, March 21, 2013.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21880124

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o Catherine Rampell, “Coveting Not a Corner Office, but Time at Home,” New York

Times, July 8, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/business/coveting-not-a-

corner-office-but-time-at-home.html?pagewanted=all

o Jodi Kantor, “Harvard Business School Case Study: Gender Equity,” New York

Times, September 7, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/education/harvard-

case-study-gender-equity.html?pagewanted=all

o Jodi Kantor, “Class Is Seen Dividing Harvard Business School,” New York Times,

September 9, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/education/harvard-

business-students-see-class-as-divisive-an-issue-as-gender.html?pagewanted=all

o Judith Warner, “The Opt-out Generation Wants Back In,” New York Times, August 7,

2013 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/magazine/the-opt-out-generation-wants-

back-in.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

o Peggy Drexler, “The Tyranny of the Queen Bee,” Wall Street Journal, March 2-3, 2013.

CWP

o Jean M. Twenge, “How Long Can You Wait to Have a Baby?” The Atlantic,

June/August 2013. CWP

o Jodi Kantor and Jessica Silver-Greenberg, “Wall Street Mothers, Stay-Home

Fathers,” New York Times, December 8, 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/us/wall-street-mothers-stay-home-

fathers.html?pagewanted=all

o Adam Bryant, “Corner Office: Women and Leadership,” New York Times, October

13, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/10/13/business/women-corner-

office.html?_r=0

o David Streitfeld, “A Lawsuit Shakes the Foundation of a Man’s World of Tech,” New

York Times, June 3, 2012.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/technology/lawsuit-against-kleiner-perkins-

is-shaking-silicon-valley.html?pagewanted=all

o Claire Cain Miller, “An Elusive Jackpot,” New York Times, June 9, 2014.

http://www.ashedryden.com/blog/new-york-times-an-elusive-jackpot

o Jonathan Martin, “Glass Ceilings Persist in Statehouses in Northeast,” New York

Times, May 19. 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/19/us/politics/glass-ceilings-

in-statehouses-in-the-northeast.html

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o Claire Cain Miller, “Pay Gap is Because of Gender, Not Jobs,” New York Times,

April 24, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/the-pay-gap-is-because-

of-gender-not-jobs.html

o Stephanie Coontz, “The New Instability,” New York Times, July 27, 2014.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/the-new-instability.html?_r=0

Assignments

Tuesday, October 21: WHY WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP – AND FOLLOWERSHIP?

What does leadership look like in the second decade of the 21st century? What is followership

and why is it as important as leadership? Why study women and leadership in particular?

Readings:

Barbara Kellerman and Deborah L. Rhode, Women & Leadership: The State of Play and

Strategies for Change (Jossey-Bass, 2007), 1-35.

Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli, Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women

Become Leaders (Harvard Business Press 2007), 1-27.

Joan Williams and Rachel Dempsey, What Works for Women at Work: Four Patterns

Working Women Need to Know (New York University Press, 2014), 1-20.

Barbara Kellerman, Followership: How Followers are Creating Change and Changing

Leaders (Harvard Business Press, 2008), xv-xxii, 25-47. CWP

Thursday, October 23: THE PAST

What is the (primarily Anglo-American) historical context within which the issue of women and

leadership is embedded? What are some of the other contexts – historical and/or

contemporaneous - that are relevant to members of this class?

Readings:

Mary Wollstonecraft, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” in Barbara Kellerman,

Leadership: Essential Selections on Power, Authority, and Influence (McGraw-Hill,

2010), 118-124. CWP

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Declaration of Sentiments” in Kellerman, Leadership:

Essential Selections, 132-139. CWP

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Sojourner Truth and Abraham Lincoln, “Ain’t I a Woman,” “The Gettysburg Address,

and “Second Inaugural Address” in Kellerman, 214-225.

Lynne Olson, Freedom's Daughters The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement

From 1830 to 1970, Preface and Chapter 1, 13-32. CWP

Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique (Norton, 2001), pp. 15-32. (And also passim, as

inclined.) CWP

Gail Collins, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from

1960 to the Present (Little Brown, 2009), 3-8, 11-24. CWP

Tuesday, October 28: THE PRESENT

What are some of the more notable recent or relatively recent contributions to the conversation

on women and equity, and women and leadership?

Readings:

Hanna Rosin, The End of Men – and the Rise of Women (Riverhead, 2012), 112-143 and

231-259. CWP

Alison Wolf, The XX Factor: How the Rise of Working Women has Created a Far Less

Equal World (Crown, 2013), 1-23; 108-126. CWP

Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (Knopf, 2013), 3-11.

Anne Applebaum, “How to Succeed in Business,” New York Review of Books, June 6,

2013. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/jun/06/sheryl-sandberg-how-

succeed-business/?page=2

Thursday, October 30: THE DIFFERENCE “DIFFERENCE” MAKES

Are men and women different? Do women and men lead differently? Follow differently?

Note: Professor Jane Mansbridge will be guest lecturer for this class session.

Readings:

Nannerl Keohane, “Crossing the Bridge: Reflections on Women and Leadership” in

Kellerman and Rhode, 65-88.

Anita Hill, “What Difference Will Women Judges Make? Looking Once More at the

‘Woman Question’” in Kellerman and Rhode, 175-190.

Eagly and Carli, 29-48 and 119-135.

Williams and Dempsey, 23-42; 59-87; 224-258.

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Herminia Ibarra et al, “Why Men Still Get More Promotions than Women” in Harvard

Business Review, September, 2010, 80-85. CWP

Anne Koenig, Alice Eagly, et al, “Are Leader Stereotypes Masculine? A Meta-Analysis of

Three Research Paradigms, Psychological Bulletin, 2011, Vol. 137., No. 4. FOR YOUR

PERUSAL ONLY. CWP

Tuesday, November 4: LOOKING IN: WHAT DO WOMEN WANT?

Do women have propensities and/or preferences that are different from those of men? If no, why

do women lag so far behind men in accessing leadership roles? If yes, what is the impact of these

differences on their advancement to leadership roles?

Readings:

Eagly and Carli, 49-65.

Barbara Kellerman and Deborah L. Rhode, “Viable Options: Rethinking Women and

Leadership” in Compass (Center for Public Leadership, 2004), 14-17; 37. CWP

Silvia Ann Hewlett, Creating a Life: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Having a

Baby and a Career (Hyperion, 2003), 125-157; 250. CWP

Sandberg, 12-26.

Sumath Reddy, “More Doctors Broach Delicate Topic of Women’s Age and Fertility

Rate,” Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2013. CWP

Thursday, November 6: LOOKING IN AND OUT: CONSTRAINTS ON WHAT

WOMEN WANT

What if any are the constraints on women who want to lead? Are they primarily internal,

external, or some admixture of both? Why does the current debate on this issue engender such

passion?

Readings:

Todd L. Pittinsky, Laura M. Bacon, and Brian Welle, “The Great Women Theory of

Leadership? Perils of Positive Stereotypes and Precarious Pedestals” in Kellerman and

Rhode, 93-116.

Eagly and Carli, 67-100 and 101-118.

Ronald A. Heifetz, “Leadership, Authority, and Women: A Man’s Challenge” in

Kellerman and Rhode, 311-326.

Sylvia Ann Hewlett, “Off-Ramps and On-Ramps: Women’s Nonlinear Career Paths” in

Kellerman and Rhode, 407-428.

Sandberg, Lean In, 27-51.

Williams and Dempsey, 59-87; 179-204.

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Tuesday, November 11: Holiday - Veteran’s Day

Thursday, November 13: WOMEN IN WORLD POLITICS

What’s happening in the rest of the world? What “if women ruled the world”?

Note: First Paper Due

Readings:

Pippa Norris, “Opening the Door: Women Leaders and Constitution Building in Iran and

Afghanistan” in Kellerman and Rhode, 197-220.

Francis Fukuyama, “Women and the Evolution of World Politics” in Foreign Affairs,

September/ October, 1998. CWP

Barbara Ehrenreich, Katha Pollitt, et al., “Fukuyama's Follies: So What if Women Ruled

the World?” in Foreign Affairs, January/ February 1999. CWP

Karen Beckwith and Kimberly Cowell-Meyers, “Sheer Numbers: Critical Representation

Threshholds and Women’s Political Representation” in APSA/Perspectives on Politics,

September 2007, 553-565. CWP

Michael Schmidt and Yasir Ghazi, “Iraqi women Feel Shunted Despite Election Quotas”

in New York Times, March 13, 2011. CWP

Rupert Wingfiield-Hayes, “Japan: The Worst Developed Country for Working

Mothers?”, BBC New Magazine, March 21, 2013. CWP

Wolf, The XX Factor, 229-242.

Tuesday, November 18: WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS

What in recent years has been the American experience? What are the research findings as well

as the facts and figures that particularly pertain?

Readings:

Richard Fox, “The Future of Women’s Political Leadership: Gender and the Decision to

Run for Elective Office” in Kellerman and Rhode, 251-261.

Raymond Hernandez, "A Gillibrand Campaign: More Women in Politics," New York

Times, July 5, 2012. CWP

Evan Osnos, “The Relentless Rise of Kristen Gillabrand,” The New Yorker, December

16, 2013. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/12/16/strong-vanilla

Jennifer Steinhauer, “Once Few: Women Hold More Power in the Senate,” New York

Times, March 22, 2013. CWP

Rebecca Traister, Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for

American Women (Free Press, 2010), 1-34, 221-238, 285-299. CWP

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Michele Swers, Women in the Club: Gender and Policy Making in the Senate (University

of Chicago, 2013), 1-20; 231-251. CWP

Thursday, November 20: WOMEN AT WORK – LEADERSHIP AND FOLLOWERSHIP

What is the experience of women in the workplace, particularly in large organizations? What do

we know about women at the top, near the top, aspiring to get to the top?

Readings:

Eagly and Carli, 137-160.

Williams and Dempsey, 43-56; 89-107.

A McKinsey & Company Report, “Women Matter: Gender Diversity, a Corporate

Performance Driver,” 2007. CWP

Nancy M. Carter and Ellen Galinsky, “Leaders in a Global Economy: Talent

Management in European Cultures,” A Family and Work Institute Publication in

Conjunction with Catalyst, 2009. CWP

Mark Scott, “To Meet Norway’s Goals, A Crash Course in Serving on Boards, New York

Times, April 3, 2013. CWP

Lauren Weber, “Why Dads Don’t Take Paternity Leave,” Wall Street Journal, June 13,

2013. CWP

Tara Siegal Bernard, “The Unspoken Stigma of Workplace Flexibility,” New York Times,

June 15, 2013. CWP

Christina Zander, “Even Scandinavia Has a CEO Gender Gap, Wall Street Journal, May

22, 2014.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303980004579576074106113980

Tuesday, November 25: WORK/LIFE/FAMILY BALANCE ISSUES

What were the past patterns? What changes if any are taking place right now? How do

generational differences pertain? How do different countries and cultures come to grips with

these issues, if at all? Are the differences between Sandberg and Slaughter real, or a figment of

the media’s imagination?

Readings:

Ellen Galinsky, et al, “Times are Changing: Gender and Generation at Work and Home,”

Family and Work Institute, 2009. PERUSE ONLY. CWP

Anne-Marie Slaughter, “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” The Atlantic, July/August

2012. CWP

Sandberg, Lean In, 121-158.

Williams and Dempsey, 127-176.

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Sonya Rhodes, “The Upside of Marrying Down,” Wall Street Journal, April 19-20, 2014.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303663604579503800504978432

Thursday, November 27: Holiday – Thanksgiving Day

Tuesday, December 2: WOMEN AT HARVARD

Drew Gilpin Faust is Harvard’s first woman president. What is your comment on her leadership

of one of America’s most august institutions of higher education? How does context pertain?

What about other women at Harvard – how are they faring?

Readings:

John Rosenberg, “A Scholar in the House: President Drew Gilpin Faust,” in Harvard

Magazine, July/ August 2007. CWP

Richard Bradley, “Drew Gilpin Faust and the Incredible Shrinking Harvard,” Boston

Magazine, June 24, 2009. CWP

Drew Gilpin Faust, “Leadership Without a Secret Code,” Interview in New York Times,

November 1, 2009. CWP

Kate Zernike, “Gains and Drawbacks for Female Professors”, New York Times, March

21, 2011. CWP

Ariane Litalien, “Closing the HKS Gender Imbalance”, The Harvard Crimson, February

14, 2011. CWP

Dev Patel, “Law School Coalition Aims To Mitigate Campus Gender Disparities,”

Harvard Crimson, March 28, 2013. CWP

Katie Koch, “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pantsuit,” Harvard Gazette, April 5, 2013.

CWP

Thursday, December 4: STRATEGIES AND TACTICS – WOMEN AS AGENTS OF

CHANGE

Note: Second Paper Due

How to create change? What can leaders and managers (of either gender) do to advance women

to leadership positions? What can women themselves do to rectify the existing imbalances?

Readings

Eagly and Carli, 161-182.

Linda Carli and Alice Eagly, “Overcoming Resistance to Women Leaders: The

Importance of Leadership Style” in Kellerman and Rhode, 127-141.

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Drude Dahlerup, “Will Gender Balance in Politics Come By Itself?” in Kellerman and

Rhode, 227-245.

Hannah Riley Bowles, “Why Women Don’t Negotiate their Job Offers,” HBR Blog

Network, June 19, 2014. CWP

Ellen Galinsky, et al, 2009 Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, Family and

Work Institute, 2009 CWP

Joann S. Lublin, “Coaching Urged for Women,” Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2011.

Herminia Ibarra, “How Female Leaders Should Handle Double Standard,” HBR Blog,

February 8, 2013. CWP

James Allworth, “It’s Not Women Who Should Step In, It’s Men Who Should Step

Back,” HBR Blog, April 8, 2013. CWP

Hewlett, Sylvia Ann (Forget a Mentor) Find a Sponsor: The New Way to Fast-Track

Your Career (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013), 13-47. CWP

David Bromwich, “Wanting More, More, More,” New York Review of Books, July 11,

2013. CWP

Alina Tugend, “A Budding Movement to Redefine the Successful Life,” New York

Times, June 15, 2013. CWP

Claudia Goldin, “A Grand Gender Convergence: It’s Last Chapter,” American Economic

Review, 2014. http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/goldin/files/goldin_aeapress_2014_1.pdf

THE GOLDIN ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR PERUSAL ONLY.