--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Studies show that women seeking power…" description: "\"Studies show that women seeking power tend to be punished for doing so, because it goes against cultural bias. Women are expected to be likeable and pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/catherine-mayer-34718_bias_studies-show-that-women-seeking-power-te_1368381.jpg" --- # Studies show that women seeking power tend to be punished… ![“Studies show that women seeking power tend to be punished for doing so, because it goes against cultural bias. Women are expected to be likeable and pliant. We are also trained to expect any success we attain to come to us through men - by pleasing men, as good employees, good partners.” quote by Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/catherine-mayer-34718_bias_studies-show-that-women-seeking-power-te_1368381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/catherine-mayer-34718_bias_studies-show-that-women-seeking-power-te_1368381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/catherine-mayer-34718_bias_studies-show-that-women-seeking-power-te_1368381.jpg) > “Studies show that women seeking power tend to be punished for doing so, because it goes against cultural bias. Women are expected to be likeable and pliant. We are also trained to expect any success we attain to come to us through men - by pleasing men, as good employees, good partners.” [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women who pursue authority often face backlash because societal expectations favor likability and compliance over assertiveness. **In simple terms:** Powerful women are penalized for defying gender norms. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge bias in leadership assessments. Themes gender bias leadership social expectations Mood frustrated determined Type analytical critical When to use this quote - corporate promotions - political candidacy - academic tenure - media representation Key Concepts intersectionality power dynamics stereotype threat Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations redesign evaluation criteria? - What personal strategies help women navigate bias? A Different Perspective Cultural change is slow; resistance may deepen punitive attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Good Employees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-employees/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Young women are not as likely to receive the encouragement they need from role models like teachers and parents. And they should be encouraged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/young-women-are-not-as-likely-to-receive-the-encouragement-they-need/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [Some studies show that women can be better money managers than men because they tend to be more conservative and do their homework. Men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/some-studies-show-that-women-can-be-better-money-managers-than-men/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [As women slowly gain power, their values and priorities are reshaping the agenda. A multitude of studies show that when women control the family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-dee-myers/as-women-slowly-gain-power-their-values-and-priorities-are-reshaping/) [Dee Dee Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-dee-myers/) > [I know there is gender imbalance in the spec fic field, and it concerns me very much. We live in a gender-biased world. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-singh/i-know-there-is-gender-imbalance-in-the-spec-fic-field-and-it/) [Vandana Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-singh/) > [If being a woman is a factor politically, it's usually not because of a conscious bias, but because women are a novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/if-being-a-woman-is-a-factor-politically-it-s-usually-not-because-of/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [We do seminars, sometimes, for 7,000 people. These are people, predominantly women, who are seeking, who want to know more, who want to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/we-do-seminars-sometimes-for-7-000-people-these-are-people/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [“I wandered all these years among A world of women, seeking you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/i-wandered-all-these-years-among-a-world-of-women-seeking-you/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [We must all acknowledge our unconscious biases, and listen with less bias when women, and others who are marginalized, speak out. 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In your fantasy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-leotta/plan-all-you-want-it-is-a-very-different-thing-to-actually-kill-a/) Allison Leotta > [I have nothing against employment but it seems that our school system is too focused on training good employees but not good entrepreneurs. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-sanchez/i-have-nothing-against-employment-but-it-seems-that-our-school-system/) [Bo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-sanchez/) > [I don't believe any person looking for work is fearful of political judgment. Government is a large institution, and if they believe that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brewer/i-don-t-believe-any-person-looking-for-work-is-fearful-of-political/) [Jan Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brewer/) > [In the early days, I didn't have the money to pay decent salaries, so I didn't get good people. I got nice people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/in-the-early-days-i-didn-t-have-the-money-to-pay-decent-salaries-so-i/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) ## More by Catherine Mayer > [Take on jobs, projects and challenges that frighten you. It's the best way to get rid of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/take-on-jobs-projects-and-challenges-that-frighten-you-it-s-the-best/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [It's not enough to vent about what you don't like on social media. I would ask everyone who can, men included, to get involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/it-s-not-enough-to-vent-about-what-you-don-t-like-on-social-media-i/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [I've taken a certain a pride in all of my books. They devour so much time and energy that you have to engage deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/i-ve-taken-a-certain-a-pride-in-all-of-my-books-they-devour-so-much/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [As a young woman working in journalism, I assumed harassment and discrimination came with the territory and that you just had to get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/as-a-young-woman-working-in-journalism-i-assumed-harassment-and/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [One of the reasons I'm able to write books and still carry on with other work is that I do my best writing between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/one-of-the-reasons-i-m-able-to-write-books-and-still-carry-on-with/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [Our male-dominated culture tends to define success in terms of wealth, fame, power, the reaction of others. Women are fed a version that includes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/our-male-dominated-culture-tends-to-define-success-in-terms-of-wealth/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [We are all impacted by the failings of a news media that almost always chooses which stories to cover according to the priorities and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/we-are-all-impacted-by-the-failings-of-a-news-media-that-almost/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [Iceland's Women's Day Off in 1975 saw 90% of Icelandic women take time off from their paid and unpaid work, an experience that not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/iceland-s-women-s-day-off-in-1975-saw-90-of-icelandic-women-take-time/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [What drives me is a sense of urgency. We live in frightening times. Progress towards gender equality and vital battles to end discrimination on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/what-drives-me-is-a-sense-of-urgency-we-live-in-frightening-times/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [The system isn't working for most people and never has worked for most women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/the-system-isn-t-working-for-most-people-and-never-has-worked-for/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [Writing a book is like running a marathon. You need to be fit to do it, mentally and, as far as possible, physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/writing-a-book-is-like-running-a-marathon-you-need-to-be-fit-to-do-it/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [It is, after all, absurd that in 2017 women are still at best second-class citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/it-is-after-all-absurd-that-in-2017-women-are-still-at-best-second/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) > [I wish I knew how to sleep late! I generally wake horribly early, often with a head full of thoughts and deadlines that propel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mayer/i-wish-i-knew-how-to-sleep-late-i-generally-wake-horribly-early-often/) [Catherine Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) [Explore all 14 Catherine Mayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mayer/) ## More Bias quotes > [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. It's not like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/the-print-is-devised-so-that-i-can-cut-the-dresses-on-the-bias-so/) [John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [That's awesome. There's no bias in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-edwards/that-s-awesome-there-s-no-bias-in-the-media/) [Carl Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-edwards/) > [“The most disgusting human trait is bias, because it typically leads to propaganda, hate and violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lifsey/the-most-disgusting-human-trait-is-bias-because-it-typically-leads-to/) [Lori Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lifsey/) > [I'm speaking out against social media bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/i-m-speaking-out-against-social-media-bias/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/hundreds-of-studies-confirm-that-human-forecasts-are-flawed-and/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The stance I took was there is no room for racial bias anywhere in sports. I believe that was basically all I said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/the-stance-i-took-was-there-is-no-room-for-racial-bias-anywhere-in/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [First and foremost, if you want to be a good writer, you need to be a good eater. 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