Module Three, the leadership gap. In spite of their high numbers in the workplace, including the professional fields, women are still subject to what many studies called the leadership gap. This refers to the fact that even in fields where women make up the majority of workers, leadership positions are overwhelmingly occupied by men. Many theories have been put forth to explain the leadership gap. But none explain why the gap exists even as women earn degrees at higher rates than do men and into the workforce at higher rates than ever. Women are underrepresented in leadership.

Broadly speaking, women are underrepresented in leadership positions. This is not just true of paid workforce in the profession. But extends the politics, government in almost every other arena of society. This is especially true at the uttermost levels of leadership, with women occupying just 14% of senior leadership positions in corporate America, and only around 20% of government leadership positions. The United States ranks 98 out of 100 countries in terms of women's representation and governmental leadership, and rakes far behind Europe in terms of women in corporate leadership. And while women are entering the workforce at greater rates than ever before, their rates of representation appear to be slipping.

All this in spite of gains in terms of women earning college degrees and entering the professions Women in executive positions. The leadership gap between men and women is most apparent at the highest levels of business. While women make up more than half the labor force in professional fields, they hold just 14.6% of executive positions. If you look around the executive suite, it doesn't get much better for women. Just about 17% of Fortune 500 board seats are held by women, and less than 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. While there are some high profile executive women blazing trails, such as Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook and Marissa Meyer of Yahoo.

The most influential positions at the most influential firms are overwhelmingly In male hands, women pay a financial price for this as well. Less than 10% of the top earners in the United States are women. However, while these numbers are grim, it is worth noting that women's representation and executive positions have been steadily increasing since 1980. When there were no female fortune 500 CEOs, women in finance, healthcare and law, the leadership gap is often most pronounced in fields where women have the greatest presence. This seems counterintuitive, it would seem that more women in a field would give rise to more women in leadership positions. However, studies show that even as women gain in fields, such as finance and law thanks Feel like far behind men in gaining leadership positions.

For instance, in the financial sector, women make up about 54% of the labor force. They also earn about 54% of master's degrees in business, including 37% of MBAs. However, they hold only 12% of executive officer positions, and about 18% of board seats. The legal sector so similar patterns, women earn a little less than half of all law degrees conferred. And about 45% of law associates are female. However, at the level of no equity partner, only 25% are women.

And among Equity Partners, only 15% are women. the healthcare field has the largest gap. Women make up nearly 80% of the labor force in healthcare, including earning just fewer than 50% of all medical degrees. Only about 15% of all executive officers in health care are women. And less than 13% of executive board seats are held by women. No health care or social assistance organization has a female as of 2014.

And hopefully, by this year, we would have seen an increase in the number of female CEOs. How is it possible that women are so underrepresented and leadership in fields where they have a commanding presence? historical trends. Looking at the statistics about the leadership gap, it can seem depressing and hopeless. There are some historical trends that are important to know. Women's representation in almost all fields of work, but particularly in law, medicine, and finance.

And the professions more broadly, has been growing over the last 30 years. There are about 70 million American women in the workforce today, and that number is expected to grow to nearly 80 million by 2018. While women still lag behind men and executive positions, they occupy more today than they ever did in 1980 where no fortune 500 Company had a female CEO. Today, more than over a dozen women has steadily earned more bastard, advanced and professional degrees. Another trend that is expected to continue if these trends hold, an even greater number of women will be poised to enter leadership positions in all sectors of society. Whether they will or not remains an open question.

Case Study. Trevor and Caitlin both work at an investment firm. Their organization sent them to a large national conference to learn more about current trends in the industry and to network. When they arrive, they both surprised that how many women were there Caitlyn was one of only a dozen or so women at this small firm, eager to network, Katelyn went to some presentations on women in the financial sector. She noticed quickly that nearly all the women speaking work in administration, especially human resources, only a handful of women held spaces on executive boards. When she and Trevor went to panels where executives were speaking, they were overwhelmingly men.

I guess women just don't get the higher education. They need to be exists, Trevor said. I mean, all those men had MBAs but a lot of women I talked to more than half do to Kaitlyn counter. Trevor was surprised. Caitlyn decided to do more research into women's potential for advancement in her industry. so that she could better plan her own personal development.