Poll: Americans Prefer Male Bosses to Female Ones

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Both men and women say, given the choice, they’d rather work for a guy.

That’s according to a new Gallup survey covered by The Wall Street Journal. It included more than 2,000 adults, including people with and without jobs. Among those who had jobs, 54 percent said they currently work for men, while 30 percent said they work for women. (Sure would like to know what the other 16 percent said.)

Gallup has been asking this question since 1953, and attitudes have evolved, the WSJ says. Back then, two-thirds said they preferred a male boss, and just 5 percent preferred a female in charge. Now, 41 percent say they have no preference, 35 percent prefer men, and 23 percent prefer women.

The shift may be less because of a change in societal attitudes and more to do with the fact female bosses have become relatively common. Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport told the WSJ the data show more people show a preference for a female boss once they’ve worked for one.

The data also show Americans between 35 and 54 are least likely to prefer a male boss, while millennials — who, of course, have less work experience — were no more likely than average to prefer a female boss.

Would you rather work for a man or a woman? Why? Comment below or on our Facebook page.

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