Male or female boss: Which do you prefer?

Ever since the idea of gender equality became a major global issue, women have been given greater opportunities to assume top positions in several organisations across the nation and the world at large. This has led to scores of women who are qualified in different fields to boss over men and women alike. But despite […]

Ever since the idea of gender equality became a major global issue, women have been given greater opportunities to assume top positions in several organisations across the nation and the world at large. This has led to scores of women who are qualified in different fields to boss over men and women alike. But despite the increasing number of women in leadership positions, some employees prefer to work with male bosses. This week, Life Extra seeks to find out why this is so.
Edith Andrew, a teacher, opines that: “Sincerely, I am happy that women are into politics, sports and different professions that were seen as only for men. But even with this achievement I prefer having a man for a boss rather than a woman.” Andrew gave reasons for his preference: “I taught in a different school before my present school, there I had a female principal for a boss, she was so demanding, I remember the staff of the school nicknamed her ‘Margaret Thatcher’ because she practically screamed at you when you defaulted. She never had good relationship with any of her staff as none of them spoke well of her, instead they saw her as a tyrant. This school I teach in is over seen by a male principal, and so far I have enjoyed working with him.”
Judith Okoye, an IT consultant, says: “I prefer working with a female boss because I am female and would be easily understood by a female boss, especially on times when I have to seek for excuses due to feminine issues. A male boss may know of these issues but can’t understand as much as a female boss will.”
Gregory Omearah, a national youth corps member, states that: “Relating with female bosses from my own point of view is stressful, some of them can be so over-bearing and tend to be perfectionists, may be because they don’t want to be intimidated or bullied by the male folk.” Omearah cites his personal experience to back his position: “During my industrial training, my tutor who I reported to but who wasn’t even my boss formed my opinion of women as bosses. Just like Funke, she robbed it on my face that I was just on industrial training not like I didn’t know, but her means of doing it was spiteful to me. She wanted everything done her way and didn’t  listen when I had issues, I eventually had to go above her to my boss when I had issues because I realised I could relate better with him, probably because he was a man.”
Chris Omabino, a civil servant, said: “I am indifferent about the sex of my boss. I personally can work with any, be it male or female. What I am concerned about is having a good working atmosphere, I am not concerned with who my boss is but my ability to deliver professionally as at when due.”  
Sadallah Qudus, a civil servant noted that: “I prefer female bosses because as a lady it would be easy to flow freely and understand each other; there won’t be shyness as you can easily state your views when needed. But if it is a male boss the rapport would not be that smooth or strong. I once worked with a female boss, she was supportive and understanding, she always listened to us, down to earth and serious. So I don’t mind working with another in the future.”
But Maryam Makama, a banker says she prefers male bosses because they are easily accessible and forgive easily unlike female bosses that would keep nailing you to your mistake. Makama explains that: “I have worked with a female boss before and her strictness made our work unnecessarily tedious, though we are responsible for anything we do but to some extend we expect them to have human sympathy. So I think a male boss is better.”
Abdullahi Usman, a company driver states that: “I think a male boss is better to work with than a female boss, many women are so gender conscious that when they assume positions as bosses, especially if it is a position that women rarely get to in an organisation, they feel that the workers would try to belittle them. At times in trying to be uptight they put up strong leadership traits that frustrate the workers.”
Shahida Hussain, a student says: “I have not had any working experience, but from my aunt’s experience think I would prefer a male boss. They are more lenient. Most times my aunty comes home frustrated and lamenting bitterly about how her female boss commands and treats her without respect. I feel as a mother and a boss which most female bosses are, they should have sympathy and compassion towards their workers.”
Hauwa Rufai, a secretary said: “Male bosses are the best to work with; they are more understanding than a woman who is meant to be more approachable. Male bosses from my own point of view are lenient and show more respect towards people who work under them. I have had a male boss who made sure I closed from work when it was closing time, that time I just got married, and he understood that as someone who was married, I had to be home on time, unlike when I was still single.”
Research shows that both men and women prefer being led by a man. A recent study by the United States’ polling agency Gallup shows that if Americans were taking a new job and had their choice of a boss, they would prefer a male boss over a female boss by 35 percent to 23 percent. The research suggests that this shouldn’t come as a surprise. A full one-third of people today still have a preference for a male boss, and this is especially prevalent amongst younger employees, it adds.