The Paradox of Feminist Ethics of Care: Women Leaders at the Intersection of Prejudice and Care

This study, grounded in role congruity theory (RCT) and social role theory (SRT), aims to develop a conceptual framework that explores the impact of prejudice on women leaders and conceptualizes the Feminist Ethics of Care (FEoC) as a pathway to leadership success. The research addresses two main objectives: (1) examining the various forms of prejudice against women, and (2) investigating how these prejudicial attitudes influence their ability to practice FEoC, particularly in terms of ‘self-care’ and ‘care-for-others’ inside workplaces. Drawing on thirty-five interviews with women in leadership positions, the findings present a paradoxical view of the FEoC in leadership. While the data highlight the importance of self-care for women leaders, they also reveal that women, when practicing care-for-others, exhibit implicit biases toward other women in leadership roles. This paradox emerges as women, influenced by internalized misogyny, perpetuate the ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality and reinforce gendered stereotypes, thus acting as both victims and perpetuators of the prejudice they encounter. Additionally, the study underscores the negative impact of gender and leadership role stereotypes, illustrating how tensions and contradictions arise in male-dominated organizations and thus reinforcing masculine norms within organizations. This research has implications for understanding the career trajectories of women in leadership and the paradoxical tensions that shape their professional advancement.