Would you rather work for a male boss or a female boss?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
January 21, 2023 11:11am CST
I saw a survey several years ago in which this question was asked. What surprised me about the results was that more than half of both men and women said they'd prefer a male boss.
I have worked for both men and women. My Graduate Advisor at UCSB was a woman, and she was wonderful. Compassionate, yet intellectually demanding.
But overall, I'd have to say I prefer male bosses. To me (a chauvanist pig, perhaps), men tend to be more straightforward in their demands, and less likely to "change the rules" in an instant.
I recently worked for a female "boss" who would make a demand, change her mind in five seconds, and then change her mind again. It kind of drove me nuts, as I'm a "get 'er done" kind of guy. I finally requested a transfer.
She was an "extreme" case, but I have experienced "odd" things with female bosses in the past as well.
Women are supposedly more empathic, while men are said to be more logical. I dunno. What do you think? Would you rather have a male or female boss?
35 people like this
33 responses
@patgalca (18390)
• Orangeville, Ontario
21 Jan 23
I have also worked for both men and women bosses. I think it is an individual basis. I do find women bosses have been harder to work for (but not for the reasons you cited). Most male bosses I worked for were great, and empathetic, and supportive. However, I am sure there are some male bosses who would be terrible to work for. I really think it depends on the individual.
7 people like this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 23
I think I would prefer a male boss too. The female boss I recall working for was horrible. She was a crook and I tried to tell her boss and they wouldn't believe me. Still makes me mad to think about it.
6 people like this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jan 23
@TheHorse .........I am glad I believe in Karma.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 23
@celticeagle I wish I believed more in Karma.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
21 Jan 23
I’m retired, so NO boss. 
Truth be told, though, I’ve had more women than men bosses. I’d say very few of the men were good, and about 1/3 of the women were good.
Truth be told, though, I’ve had more women than men bosses. I’d say very few of the men were good, and about 1/3 of the women were good.5 people like this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
21 Jan 23
@TheHorse — I think it’s because women have “something to prove” after being denied leadership positions for so long. Or the monthly miseries. 
5 people like this
@crossbones27 (49703)
• Mojave, California
21 Jan 23
@FourWalls (To be honest I lived in a male dominated world my whole life pretty much, I think I had more lady bosses in military than civilian world and 99 percent were very good in military , but to me not a large enough sample size to truly say is probably what I should say.
3 people like this
@quantum2020 (12041)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
21 Jan 23
I have more worked with men than women. At present, I don´t have a stable job. I would prefer to work with someone who is business oriented and who can reach objectives positively. I´m more inclined to work with men but I wouldn´t mind working with women as long as they present their demands in a decent and object-oriented manner
3 people like this
@quantum2020 (12041)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
21 Jan 23
@TheHorse I like to receive stimulation while on a project. It makes me more productive. At present, I don´t work. It could be said that I´m my own boss.
I remember a few job-s not all, in which the stimulation in the form of payment used to make the group in which a was working very productive.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 23
@quantum2020 I like it when there's active discussion of common goals with colleagues (and bosses).
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 23
I had some experiences with bosses when I worked in marine insurance companies in NYC. One of my bosses was an egotistical and tyrannical Chinese man who thought that Chinese was the dominant race, I had such a hard time with him and felt like a soldier always looking to see I was on time for work from lunch etc, Then I had two lady bosses the ladies were partners living together and you could easily tell who was the man and who the woman but they did love each other.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 23
@TheHorse the women were very kind but also seemed rather strange so I was not comfortable around them, Glad I could change that job and move on,
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 23
@RasmaSandra I've worked around "strange" people too.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
21 Jan 23
I've also worked for both and it was easier working for a male boss
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
23 Jan 23
@TheHorse it just seemed as if my male boss was more flexible whereas the female boss was a micromanager
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
21 Jan 23
I'd rather have a male boss. I had mostly male bosses since I started working and I am more comfortable. I had worked for a female boss but didn't have a good working experience with her.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 23
@florelway Fussy. An interesting word.
2 people like this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
21 Jan 23
@TheHorse Females are fussy lol, whereas male bosses are simple to deal with, they do not nag.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
21 Jan 23
I had rather not have a boss at all. I have a mix of both superiors, being the lowest person on the totem pole. I report directly to a woman, and we have men over us as the Principal and then the Superintendent, and The special education administrator.j Of course I read somewhere yesterday that the lowest person on the totem pole is the strongest and holds the entire tribe up.
3 people like this
@crossbones27 (49703)
• Mojave, California
21 Jan 23
I prefer male, a couple of my women bosses ended up t liking me and made things awkward. There was some women bosses in military I never had a problem with. Military at least in Marines keeps fraternization to a minimum. Not that all follow those rules but most kept it professional.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181238)
• United States
22 Jan 23
I have worked for both; and both had their idiosyncracies. I honestly don't know which one I would pick if I had the choice.
2 people like this
