“They expect me to be caring”: the challenges of claiming an androgynous leadership approach

Purpose This study aims to explore the experience of performing androgynous leadership approaches by New Zealand women leaders within context everyday conflict situations. Design/methodology/approach The research question “How do gender in situations?” was explored through facilitation 4 focus groups with 19 senior female Zealand. Poststructural discourse analysis used how participants negotiated positions power their environments and accordance competing gendered discourses. Findings Participants described taking a flexible, balanced, approach managing While expectations be “empathetic”, “sympathetic”, “gentle”, “nurturing” “caring” resonated preferred approach, they remained firm that if persisted, would “cross line” adopt stereotypically masculine behaviours resolve situation. However, describe when perceived crossing line from feminine approaches, experienced significant backlash. demonstrates tensions between like take experiences doing so prescriptively organisational context. Originality/value contributes gap which exists understanding is viewpoint woman leader. presents nuanced view as contested ground, rather than series strategic choices. Despite an increase acceptance into positions, authors seemingly remain bound what considered “feminine”