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<b>How Does Gender Stereotype Affect Women’s Career Progression Toward Top-Leadership Positions in the Corporate Industries of Bangladesh?</b><b>Abstract</b>Notwithstanding the sharp rise in women’s engagement in the workforce, leadership positions in Bangladesh remain predominantly occupied by men, perpetuated by deep-rooted gender stereotypes and the belief that women lack managerial capabilities. Before commenting on women's leadership ability in Bangladesh, how often they receive the chance to lead compared to males, which consequences they encounter, and why they can't continue are matters of question. To answer this, we have leveraged the Leader-Member Exchange Theory and Career Curve to systematically explore overlooked facets and scrutinize the impact of gender preconceptions on women's leadership advancement. Our findings unveil that women play the out-group role due to the persistent adherence to the "think manager think male" paradigm, the male ego and fear of accepting women's leadership, critiques and prejudice, and double standards within the organization. Hence, women have longer mid-career crises than men and are marginalized in succession planning, which leads women to have self-doubt, moral dilemmas, and the propensity to step down from the lead role and to switch organizations even at inferior positions. The authors urge organizations to foster diversity, challenge biases, ensure equitable professional progression, and adopt think manager think contingent over the think manager think male paradigm.Data Collection and Analysis We have employed a qualitative research methodology, specifically utilizing in-depth interviews with 16 participants to conduct our investigation. The primary target population of this study was female employees who were employed in the mid-level to top-level. The reason behind targeting these populations is primarily to identify the barriers they are facing due to gender in their mid-career that is troubling them to secure the top position and to know the experience faced by the top-level female employees when they lead in the male-dominated corporate sector. Then this study secondarily targeted female employees who are working at the entry level to know their leadership aspirations in the top position. Furthermore, to validate the findings of the study, the authors found the importance of cross-verification. Hence, this study also targeted male employees from the mid-level to top-level to know their perception regarding the gender stereotype and female leadership in top management. The data analysis process was carried out using Nvivo 14 software for the in-depth interview transcripts. Upon importing the data into Nvivo, a systematic coding strategy was employed to identify recurring themes and patterns within the dataset. The process of thematic analysis involved the development of codes that aligned with the core concepts discovered in the interviews. Project and concept maps were generated using Nvivo to visually illustrate the connections, providing a comprehensive view of the findings.Discussion on findingsGender stereotype indeed affects women in Bangladesh not only to secure top leadership position as well as to sustain the leadership position. As per participant reports, networking emerges as a pivotal factor in shaping employees' professional development within the workplace. Regrettably, female professionals continue encountering challenges in establishing and benefiting from such essential networks. Most female employees face tight control from their boss as they play the “out-group”, whereas male employees are higher in the in-group. The interview findings reveal a discernible gender gap in learning opportunities, especially in predominantly male-dominated organizations. Male employees benefit from more inclusive and unrestricted communication with leaders, allowing them to have more opportunities to learn and improve their skills. In contrast, female employees face obstacles that prevent them from participating in leadership discussions. The limited access is ascribed to factors such as derogatory remarks, cases of sexual harassment, and omnipresent preconceptions that cast doubt on women's aptitude for strategic thinking. This study identifies a prevalent dichotomy in leadership dynamics, designating female employees to the "outgroup" and male counterparts to the "in-group." This outgroup positioning subjects female employees to heightened formal scrutiny and stringent control mechanisms from their leaders. The prevalence of the male ego of working under women and fear of losing control also pushes male-dominated organizations in Bangladesh to limit the learning opportunities for females. The awareness of male employees' performance, stemming from established in-group relationships, translates into a discernable bias favoring males in promotion considerations. The perceptible influence of in-group and outgroup dynamics significantly governs leaders' cognitive processes when designing succession planning strategies.Consistent with the observations made by Amakye et al. (2021), our study corroborates a discernible inclination among subordinates to display less compliance toward female leaders compared to their male counterparts, which raises concerns for organizational management, potentially influencing their reluctance to appoint females in managerial positions.In mid-career progression, female employees experience prolonged periods of crisis compared to their male counterparts, largely attributable to the dynamics of in-group/out-group politics. Despite having female representation in management, female participants observed biased evaluations, attributing it to stereotypical perceptions prevalent among male-dominated department heads. For women in Bangladesh, attaining and maintaining leadership positions poses considerable challenges. The continuous need to substantiate their leadership capabilities places them under perpetual scrutiny, where any mistake is met with immediate negative feedback, raising questions about their competence vis-à-vis their male counterparts. Biased perception and disparate treatment towards female leaders instigate self-doubt moral dilemmas and often compel them to transition to female-oriented organizations, albeit in lower positions. However, this challenge has enabled women to augment their skills, positioning them to showcase their value consistently. In Bangladesh, current findings highlight women's growing confidence, visionary mindset, adept navigating challenges, fostering strength, and acquiring diverse, adaptive leadership patterns. The persistent adherence to the "think manager, think male" mindset may inadvertently create a glass ceiling for male advancement in future leadership scenarios. It is imperative for our business culture to acknowledge and embrace the virtue of empathy exhibited by women, incorporating it as a fundamental value in leadership.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our study contributes to the existing literature on gender stereotypes and female leadership by delving into the association between stereotypes and women's leadership in Bangladesh's corporate sector. Unlike previous studies that predominantly focused on social role congruity theory and factors affecting women's leadership, our research incorporates leader-member exchange theory, contingent leadership theory and career trajectories to understand the effect of gender stereotype on women’s leadership sustainability. Despite performance and qualifications, we find that these stereotypes act as barriers, hindering women from attaining and exercising top leadership positions. Nevertheless, our study unveils resilience among effective female leaders who strategically navigate these barriers, viewing setbacks as opportunities for self-improvement. Female leaders, faced with gender stereotypes, adopt distinctive leadership behaviors, prompting a reevaluation of leadership paradigms traditionally associated with males. This challenges organizations to foster inclusive environments, promoting diversity and performance regardless of gender, and shifting from the entrenched "think manager, think male" paradigm to embracing a "think manager, think contingent and leader-made" approach. This research brings forth significant theoretical implications, urging a reevaluation of leadership paradigms. It highlights the importance of in-group and out-group dynamics, prompting a deeper exploration of their influence on learning opportunities, promotions, and leadership perceptions. Leveraging the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory and mid-career crisis as theoretical lenses, the study elucidates the limited representation of women in top leadership positions in Bangladesh.Additionally, the study underscores the significance of emotional intelligence and empathy, challenging the conventional "think manager, think male" mindset.The research findings have important practical implications for organizations developing inclusive and fair leadership environments. This investigation illuminates the lack of attention given to the underutilized capabilities of women in leadership positions at various organizational levels. The study questions traditional measures of commitment, highlighting that assessing dedication only based on continuous accessibility and extended working hours is erroneous. Promoting diversity and inclusion while empowering female employees through skill enhancement is pivotal for dismantling current challenges and fostering gender equity<br><br>