What the presidential election means for women business leaders

The 2024 election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is hugely important almost. With the House, Senate and governor’s races up for grabs, either party could gain considerable influence over the country’s laws and policies.

The political and legal ramifications of this election will depend on how much power each party secures in the branches of government. But no matter who wins, the professional landscape of female leaders will change.

Here’s what women leaders can expect in the coming months and what strategies can help them stay resilient and focused in their careers.

Electoral victories for women in 2024 could unlock seats on corporate boards

When women win elections, it sends a message about society’s attitudes towards women in leadership. These victories can help convince councils that society at large sees women as legitimate leaders. In turn, changing social norms encourage companies to add more women to their boards.

Electoral successes of women who don’t run against men have led large U.S. firms headquartered in the corresponding zip codes to add more women to their boards, according to a analysis of 365 House, Senate and Gubernatorial elections between 2004 and 2016. The researchers, professors at Rutgers University and Bucknell University, published their findings last year on the Social Science Research Network.

According to the researchers, women’s gains at the ballot box translated into even greater gains in the boardroom when they generated high turnout and received substantial media coverage. Gains were also greater when board decision-makers lived locally, allowing them to witness first-hand the enthusiasm for women’s leadership.

A significant number of women are to be elected in November. Women make up 27 percent of U.S. House candidates, 23 percent of Senate candidates and 20 percent of gubernatorial candidates, according to Rutgers. Center for American women and politics.

In places where women are expected to win, we can anticipate an increase in female board representation as companies respond to these societal signals, particularly in races where voter turnout and media attention have been particularly high.

Beliefs about the glass ceiling can change

Obama’s election to the White House led many to believe that the US had entered a post-racial era—one in which Americans would increasingly make non-racial judgments about their leaders. Could the 2024 election result change the way we think about the corporate glass ceiling?

A Harris victory could shatter both gender and racial barriers, bolstering optimism for women, especially women of color, in their careers and leadership opportunities. A Trump victory, on the other hand, could deepen pessimism that gender and racial gaps in the C-Suite will soon close.

After Clinton’s loss in the 2016 election, many Americans concluded that the world was not yet ready for women in top corporate leadership roles—even if they remained personally committed to the ideals and attitudes of gender equality. This is what researcher from the University of Queensland concluded from their survey of 165 US residents 12 days before the 2016 election and another 159 people 2 days after Clinton’s defeat. Over the course of two weeks, participants’ ratings of women applying for leadership positions dropped significantly, while ratings of male candidates did not change. A replication of the study in an experimental laboratory yielded similar results.

The outcome of the 2024 election will undoubtedly affect perceptions of women’s progress in leadership. A Harris victory could inspire women to step into leadership roles with renewed confidence that racial and gender barriers can finally fall. Conversely, a Trump victory could make some women feel more hesitant about their chances of advancing in male-dominated and predominantly white spaces, reinforcing concerns about the persistence of gender and racial inequality.

Sexism and verbal abuse likely to increase

Women in corporate leadership can expect to be on the receiving end of more aggressive and uncooperative communication from some men. That’s because, no matter who wins, the election will very likely amplify the undercurrents of sexism and racism that began after the 2016 election.

In negotiations with women, men began adopting more adversarial strategies after the 2016 election, according to the Wharton Business School. teachers who conducted pre- and post-election simulations with students at the University of Pennsylvania. They found a 17.2 percentage point increase in the likelihood that men would use harsh tactics against women in negotiations.

Similarly, while the most egregious forms of sexual harassment have declined since 2016, gender-based harassment has become more prevalent through 2018, suggesting that changes in leadership can influence workplace dynamics in more subtle but equally important ways. harmful. In 2018, women reported more daily occurrences of suggestive stories, offensive jokes, crude sexual remarks and sexist comments than in 2016.

Women in the highest positions of power in their organizations and women business owners saw the biggest increase in harassment, according to researcher at Leeds School of Business and the University of Colorado, Boulder, who surveyed full-time working women in 2016 and again in 2018.

A Trump victory would likely worsen sexist attitudes, as electing a leader with overtly hostile sexist views appears to deepen already held ideological positions and associated behaviors, particularly among men, research shows.

In one of the USA studyRepublican men embraced more traditional masculine ideals after the election, such as avoiding what is seen as feminine, suppressing emotions, prioritizing work, and taking risks. Conversely, liberal-leaning men became more likely to object to everyday sexist comments. Research from Spain echoed these findings, linking the rise of sexist attitudes and support for far-right parties to backlash against feminist mobilization efforts.

Meanwhile, a Harris victory may not eliminate sexist or aggressive communication toward female leaders, in large part because of the widening ideological divide among men — where Republicans and Democrats differ significantly. The quality of interactions with liberal men may remain stable under a Harris presidency, but the presence of a woman in the highest office could cause considerable backlash from conservative men. These problems likely to be exacerbated for black and Latina women who face sexist as well as racial stereotypes in professional settings.

As we documented in a previous Forbes columnmen who feel more powerless see women as less legitimate candidates for leadership roles, propose to pay them less, and exhibit greater tolerance for discrimination and gender inequality.

Post-election Strategies to keep moving forward

As the political landscape unfolds, here are three strategies to harness your momentum, stay focused, and stay resilient on your leadership journey.

Take advantage of local election gains

Stay informed about high-profile races in your area, especially those with female candidates. When women succeed in visible roles, it signals broader social support for women’s leadership. Consider raising your profile in community and professional spaces to build on this momentum.

Prepare for bias-based interactions

Prepare ExIT to handle more aggressive and sexist communication from colleagues. Practicing responses to tough tactics can keep interactions professional and focused, helping to redirect challenging conversations. Find support and learn how to be an ally by joining a mentoring group for women of color in leadership or LGBTQ+ women in business.

Stay focused on long-term goals

Regardless of the outcome of the election, don’t let it derail your ambitions. Continue to take on leadership roles and move forward with advancement goals knowing that perseverance it also develops emotional intelligence, enhances creativity and can inspire others around you. You can also find strength in supporting and preparing the next generation of women for leadership roles.

The 2024 election will profoundly influence the professional landscape of women, shaping leadership opportunities, interpersonal interactions, and stereotypes. However, regardless of the outcome, women leaders who continue to pursue their goals and prepare themselves again for challenges, continue to play a pivotal role in redefining the norms of leadership.

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