NAME: Jeffrey Lucaylucay DATE: ______________

Title: Defining the Alpha Female: A Female Leadership Measure

Author: Rose Marie Ward, Halle C. Popson and Donald G. DiPaolo

I.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY/ SYNOPSIS Nowadays, womens social roles have changed significantly according to the authors. They have been tagged now as alpha females, rising from the belief that they can do anything their male counterpart can do. In fact more women are taking on leadership roles in the society and are earning degrees. They can even act as leaders in the community more so to a nation. The present study with total respondents of 637 women completed the survey and was recruited via a two-step method - via e-mails and through online procedures that delimited the study resulting to a very low response rate. However, one strength of this study was that participants were invited randomly from each respective university or college. The current study suggested and discussed the development of a 14-item to identify and measure the alpha personality, and there is

some kind of Alpha Female Inventory which can be used to identify women who embody alpha leadership qualities and to aid in our understanding of women as leaders. In the alpha literature, some authors suggested that alpha males are confident leaders whose charisma can be detrimental or advantageous in the business world, whereas, Ludeman and Erlandson described alpha males as socially aggressive, in contrast Hawley, Little and Card, (2008) argued that social dominance is not only a trait embraced only by alpha males but also with alpha females. However this study emphasized the more positive alpha traits such as leadership and extroversion. The study also mentioned and used the concept of genderneutral leadership style which extends beyond the idea of the greatman into the idea that types of leadership are accessible by men and women and can be assessed. To measure validity, Bems Sex role Inventory was utilized and so was a 33-item Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and a 30item Student Leadership Practices Inventory, the latter targeted five exemplary leadership practices. Each leadership practice is

measured by six items, wherein when the result is summed up higher scores indicated that the participant endorsed more of each aspect of leadership.

Being an alpha female, as it was concluded in the study, may be a risk factor similar to being an alpha male, and so in leadership literature, risk-taking is related to effective leadership. Female leaders tend to be more communal and inclusive, thereby interested in not only in their success but also in the successes of others. Alpha females, therefore, are leaders who believe they are personally strong and low on introversion. In short, these women who have benefited from the feminist movement and the expansion of sex role expectations. After the data gathering was complete, the sample was randomly split using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 15.0. A number of initial tests were used to examine the entire data set. The initial tests examined the fit of the data for the analyses warranted for the investigation. It was found out that alpha females had significantly higher levels of leadership characteristics and more resulting masculine gender-role characteristics than the nonalphas with respect to self-esteem and emotional intelligence. The study suggested that the AFI measure can be used to identify alpha females. Consistent with the hypotheses, alphas had higher levels of all leadership characteristics than non-alphas. The alphas had levels of all the validation measures higher than

published levels. Women are expected to be feminine or communal regardless of their leadership status.

II.

REACTIONS/CRITIQUE

Where did the concept alpha female originate? few may ask. It is my very first time to connect with these words and the whatabout-it questions kept circling my mind as I first had a glimpse and had my first skim on this journal sometime of July. So now, here I am bombarded with different views and ideas on the different reviews that I have to comply and in my heart I am so inclined to give out my best opinion regardless time. Etymologically speaking, alpha female according to Davies in 1985 is used to designate the male animal that is the leader in a pack and it dominates reproductively. The same as with human, there are whom we consider as superior and inferior, and in this study we refer to them as alphas and non alphas, there goes alpha girl or alpha female. In addition, according to some book authors alpha girl is as a young woman who is inclined to be a leader. She is talented and highly motivated. She is self-confident, too. More so, she also has a very high GPA dominating others, a leadership position and demonstrating high achievement motivation.

Well, biblically speaking, I do not adhere with this very modern definition and description of a female leader who they call alpha female, an ultimate one who can outnumber man in qualities because definitely she is a mere replica of us, just a part of the man so she must submit herself to man in all her ways. It is stated and commanded in the Scriptures, Let the woman learn in silence WITH ALL SUBJECTION.
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(I Timothy 1:12, King James Version) So, how can

she manifest or practice that doctrine when she is ruling over man in decision making, or worst the entire nation? Woman is really a leader in the sense but never a substitute to man in his place. Let me cite for instance the feeding of thousand men in the Bible excluding young children and women. In those times, men are given high regard and distinctions while woman merely acted as home keeper as the Bible says, Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies? 10 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 11 She will do him good and not evil in all the days of her life.12 (Proverbs 31, KJV) On the contrary, technically speaking, alpha female leadership in the broadest sense of the word is indeed a must looked upon and a breakthrough for my mother and female sibling. Gone are the days that each woman only served their family at home because life is evolving and a constant change, we can now showcase our talents and

abilities in leading an innovative town, province, city, country or even a nation. According to Eagly et. al. more than a few women have risen to positions as corporate chief executives, university presidents, state governors and presidents of nations. Although womens progress in attaining power and authority is unmistakable, even now that the presence of women in elite leadership position is unusual enough until it evokes a sense of wonder. That is a clear manifestation of the alpha qualities of women that largely contribute to her positions unlike what they call non-alphas or just the plain, simple, and unsophisticated woman/ or girl. To quote Kindlons original definition (2006), the alpha female is a woman who reports being a leader, feeling a sense of superiority or dominance over other females, having others seek her guidance, feeling extroverted in social situations, believing that males and females are equal. In general, alpha or non-alpha female, whichever one woman belongs, still she has to put herself in humble position as possible. There shouldnt be over dominance to show her alpha characteristics over the man that can disparage the stand and principle of man.

III.

REFERENCES

Eagly, Alice H., Carli, Linda L., 2007, Through the Labyrinth: The Truth about How Women Become Leaders, Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. (eBook) Ward, R. M., Popson, H. C. and DiPaolo, D. G. ,10 May 2010. Defining the Alpha Female: A Female Leadership Measure. http://www.sagepublications.com Apostle Paul.New testament, I Timothy, King James Version of the Bible King Solomon. Old Testament, Proverbs, King James Version of the Bible