Women as Bosses: Perceptions and Progress Boss Gender Preference Percent saying they prefer a boss who is an 100% 75. 66
Women may have made measurable progress in the workplace over the last few decades, yet old ways die hard. Women still lag when it comes to holding top managerial positions. And among those with a preference, both men and women say they prefer male bosses and co-workers.
Only 24 women (about 5%) currently are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, according to an analysis by Catalyst, a nonprofit seeking to expand opportunities for women. Yet this is up from 20 female CEOs in 2013, and only one in 1998. Less than 9% of top management positions are filled by women, and the rates have declined in some key sectors in recent years. A similar analysis by Catalyst last year — this one looking at Fortune 1000 companies — found 45 women CEOs, up from 16 a decade prior, but still less than 5% of all top jobs.
Gallup has been tracking gender preferences in the workplace since 1953, when fully two-thirds of American adults (66%) said they would prefer a male boss if they had a choice in a new job. Another 25% volunteered that it made no difference, and only 5% said they would prefer a female boss. As of November 2013, the gap has narrowed but remains. A plurality (41%) say it makes no difference, but the rest prefer a male boss over a female boss by 35%-23%.
Women as Bosses: Perceptions and Progress  | Boss Gender Preference  | Percent saying they prefer a boss who is an  | 100%  | 75. 66  | 75. 66  | Man  | 48  | 50  | 35%  | 25  | 23%  | Woman  | 22  | 16  | 1953  | 1975  | 1994 2000  | 2013  | Rise of Female CEOs in Fortune 500 Companies  | Percent of Fortune 500 CEOs who are women  | 10%  | 4.8%  | 3.0  | 1.8  | 0.0  | 1995  | 2000  | 2005  | 2010  | 2014  | Note: Voluntary responses of No preference and No opinion not shown.  | Percenta published ges of women CEOs based on data available the time of the annual  | published ges Fortune 500 list.  | Source: Gallup Poll Social Series: Work and Education August 2013. Cata lyst,  | Historical List of Women CEOs of the Fortune Lists: 1972 2013  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 