Dispelling the Myth of the “Queen Bee Syndrome”: Assessing Women’s Professional Relationships with Women in Christian Higher Education

Abstract

Over the past five decades, a gender stereotype known as “Queen Bee Syndrome” has persisted, portraying some women who have risen to leadership roles in male-normed organizations as being self-preservationist and individualistic, even to the extent of intentionally undermining the professional advancement of other women. Use of this term can be traced to the competitive dynamics among female bees in a colony, with only one emerging and dominating as the “queen.” Yet the researchers who coined this concept in the 1970s later expressed concern that their findings had been misunderstood; Queen Bee behaviors on the part of top-level women are an anomaly rather than the norm. In fact, women’s working relationships with women have received only limited research attention, with the literature reflecting a spectrum of perceptions and experiences. This study examined the reported prevalence of both Queen Bee behaviors and supportive, generative relationships that enhance the prospects for women’s career advancement. Whereas previous studies focused primarily on the corporate context, this study focused on the context of Christian higher education. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to examine the relational experiences and expectations between and among 24 women participants (12 cabinet-level and 12 emerging leaders), drawing on data from two rounds of interviews. Overall, this study found patterns of strong and beneficial professional relationships among women, including support for one another’s leadership aspirations and career advancement. Key findings are summarized in three major themes regarding the experiences and expectations of women within each group and in relation to the other: (a) the centrality of women’s relationships with women; (b) women’s relational experiences versus expectations; and (c) divergent understandings of the Queen Bee Syndrome. Recommendations for relevant programming and policies that can support the advancement of women at all organizational levels, along with suggestions for future related research, are provided.

Keywords:

• Women’s leadership
• queen bee
• Christian higher education
• women’s professional relationships

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).