Blog 3: Power and Gender

Power and how it is used is an important idea in leadership. Power, the capacity of an individual to change people’s “beliefs, attitudes, and courses of action” (Northouse, 2021, p. 10). Nations, society, and community are assessed based on power distance, the degree to which people without authority in organizations see power is distributed (Hofstede Insights, 2022). High power societies accept inequality in power distribution whereas people in low power societies question authority and expect to be involved in decisions that impact them (Hofstede Insights, 2020). Morocco is categorized as a high-power society (Hofstede Insights, 2020).

One of the areas that I pay attention to when thinking of power is who makes decisions between men and women. Even in low power societies, you find that decisions are predominantly made by males, many decision-making positions in government and business are held by men. My view is that the one making the decisions, or at least the one with recognized authority to make the decisions, is the one with power. This view becomes complicated because on the exterior it does appear that men are the decision makers, but I am of the belief it is possible that behind the scenes decisions can be and are influenced by women. Think of figurehead or puppet master.

There was an incident at the tannery that fascinated me, and which illustrated how decisions can be made by someone else.  Karlyn and Cora were buying items and the salesman was unwilling to reduce the price.  Nearby there was a lady that appeared to be just a cashier.  The salesmen would go to her when a sale had been finalized.

When Karlyn and Cora insisted the price be reduced further, but the man would not yield. Then the lady at the counter told our two ladies that she would give them the merchandise at the price they wanted.

The man was livid, turned his back and huffed and pumped his chest, looked down in obvious anger or disgust, facial expressions clearly showing he was not happy. A minute or so later he left and went to balcony.

To me the whole incident was testimony that power, that is, the power to make the all-important final decision, is not always with the one with the one holding the important title. What I have been wondering though is why the man was angry, was it the idea of being overruled by a woman, being challenged by foreign women, or was it simply the idea of losing a commission?

Country comparison. (2020, August 12). Hofstede Insights. Retrieved 05/23/2022 from https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/morocco,the-usa/

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications.