Communication styles and gender : impact on leadership perceptions and career advancement of women employees in the public sector | |
| Author | Thanyathon Padungsong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-25-04 |
| Subject(s) | Leadership Women in the civil service--Thailand Public administration--Thailand |
| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The critical role of gendered communication in shaping leadership, power dynamics, and organizational inclusion is one of the focus in gender and development studies, with ongoing discussions around its implications in different cultural and organizational contexts. Researches have shown that gendered communication styles have impacts on workplace perceptions and leadership. However, gaps remain in understanding how these dynamics play within hierarchical public sector organizations.While Thailand public sector organizations have introduced gender equality and inclusivity policies, limited research has examined how gendered communication styles influence perceptions of leadership and career advancement, particularly for women.This study addresses this gap by investigating how male and female employees perceive and demonstrate agentic and communal communication traits, as well as how these perceptions affect women leadership credibility, promotion prospects and organizational inclusion.This study examines two bureaus/divisions of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), a male-dominated engineering bureau and a female dominated finance division, to determine if changing organizational cultures and gender inclusion policies are altering traditional leadership norms.Using qualitative methodologies, data are collected through in-depth and key informant interviews, together with document analysis. The data show that agentic traits are highly associated with leadership success, reaffirming traditional gender stereotypes.Female leaders with agentic traits frequently face social penalties, while those with communal traits are perceived as lacking authority.Women who combine both styles,on the other hand, are increasingly regarded as adaptable and inclusive, demonstrating evolving leadership.This study highlights persistent gendered biases in communication-related leadership evaluations and the structural barriers women face in advancing their careers. It emphasizes the importance of inclusive leadership development and communication training adapted to departmental dynamics. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Chatterjee, Joyee S. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko;Tsusaka, Takuji W. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Thai Government Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |