The gender stereotype landscape in Tanzania: A national study with healthcare leaders

Abstract

Over the past two decades, women’s participation in the workforce has increased, but their representation in senior roles remains suboptimal. In Tanzania, women comprise 70 % of the health workforce, but occupy only 17.4 % of senior and middle-management positions. This disparity highlights the presence of barriers to women's leadership advancement. To better understand gender in healthcare leadership, this study conducted a national cross-sectional survey with healthcare leaders between June and September 2023 to assess contemporary gender stereotypes and their characterisation among Tanzanian healthcare leaders. Men comprised more than half (59 %) of the sample (N = 200). While 62.5 % of participants indicated no preference for the gender of their leader, 22 % preferred a man. Mean overall agency ratings were higher for men compared to women, whereas mean communality ratings were higher for women. Analysis of communality scores revealed a significant difference (U = 3110, p = 0.032), with men rating their own gender higher compared to the ratings given by women. Assessments of agency indicated that women rated women higher than men did, with differences approaching statistical significance (U= 3530 p = 0.059). These patterns indicate the presence of gender-based stereotyping. Each gender also viewed themselves more positively, as demonstrated by higher ratings of their own gender compared to ratings of the opposite gender. These findings may have adverse implications for women's representation in Tanzania's healthcare leadership landscape. Findings highlight the significant potential gender sensitivity and equality initiatives have in the Tanzanian context, as they could help mitigate stereotypes and their deleterious effects on women's leadership.