Stereotypical male uniforms, an experimental study on leadership and gender.

Abstract: Within the Swedish prison and probation service 80% of the officers on duty (which is a leadership position) are male. Could this inequality have something to do with the stereotypical male authoritarian uniform used in this specific organization? The purpose of this study was to investigate if the uniform used within the Swedish prison and probation service could influence our leadership aspiration, leadership self-efficacy, group identification (gender), social identity threats and/or family flexibility, and if it affects men and women differently. Participants were divided into three groups and were presented one out of three manipulations (picture of a uniform, casual clothing or no picture), after which they answered a questionnaire measuring their leadership aspiration, leadership self-efficacy, group identification (gender), social identity threats and family flexibility. The results revealed that the uniform does affect our leadership aspiration, and that it affects men and women differently. Also, the results revealed a significant difference to what extent men and women expect to confront social identity threats if they were to work as an officer on duty within the Swedish prison and probation service.