The objective of this study is to evaluate gender and cultural differences in the perception of
male and female leaders in a feedback situation. The research is based upon considerations from
a literature review in the fields of gender bias and stereotypes previously conducted. Subjects
from Spain and Germany were asked to evaluate a director (male or female) in a fictive feedback
situation that was described prior to a short questionnaire. The questions of the questionnaire
were based on previous research and findings of the literature review. We tested if previous
experience with a woman leader was related to a higher evaluation of the female leader and if
there was a relationship between the previous experience with a female leader and the
preference to work for a certain leader s gender. Results from the study show that gender
culture and previous experience with a female leader had no influence on the leader s
evaluation. A discussion with possible interpretations of the findings and implication for
further research follows.
