Commenting on gender stereotypes in the workplace, SMU Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Kenneth Tai said that gender norms expect men to be assertive, controlling and confident. By contrast, women are often expected to be gentle and sympathetic to others’ needs, he said. “Research has shown that women who behave more (rather than less) assertively are likely to be penalised, such as being perceived as more demanding, less likeable and less likely to be hired,” Assoc Prof Tai said. His research in organisational behaviour and human resources includes understanding how people cope with negative interpersonal events at the workplace. Although data from the 2022 White Paper on Singapore Women's Development showed that more women are taking on leadership roles, Assoc Prof Tai noted that female leaders are often caught in a “double bind”.
