When we think about what it was like 100 years ago, the only people in leadership roles were men, and there were no women present. Why do we tend to see more men in leadership positions? Usually, when we think about what a leader looks like, we tend to describe them as powerful, assertive and confident. Due to stereotypes our society immediately labels this person as a man, due to the roles we are expected to follow. Today there has been a huge shift for women in leadership positions; however, there are many challenges they still need to overcome. A process through which an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (Northouse, 2007) defines a leader. Furthermore, leaders come in different forms, whether in professional, educational or team settings. As a college student and advocate for equal rights between men and women, my understanding of the struggles women face has a huge impact on my leadership philosophy. The three most important concepts in this course that struck me the most are the double bind, manager thinking, male thinking and the glass ceiling. For starters, the double bind is the concept that you're damned if you don't and damned if you don't. Do. In other words, this concept states that women in leadership face a double standard when in positions of power. Eagly and Carli (2007), describe this as a dilemma, where women are prescribed a more communal role and most leadership roles are particularly agentic. By communitarian they mean that the woman is expected to be polite, affectionate, avoid being too assertive and dominant, compared to acting leaders where they are expected to be the opposite, such as direct, assertive, influential towards others, competent and c .. .... middle of paper ... there are barriers, but there continue to be subtle ways in which women still face prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, I encourage everyone, including men, to have an open mind, where everyone is seen as equal to each other. Women should not be treated differently or paid less than men. I believe all men should see how valuable and important women are, especially in the world of work. As I have noticed, there are many men who do not care, and this is evident for the students who have enrolled in this course. Women should not force themselves to go beyond what they are already capable of, dress a certain way, or even speak assertively; they should be respected just like every other person next to her, even men. To summarize, a leader is someone who inspires, motivates and encourages a group, community or country regardless of gender or sex..