History has shaped women's roles in employment and government. According to 2002 research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 1950 and 2000, the segment of women in the workforce rose from 34 to 60 percent. These figures speak to significant gains in women's social and economic position. However, this period of history has also been shaped by values and regulations that discourage or prevent women from attaining positions of leadership. For instance, between 1917 and 2011, women have made up only 2.1 percent of all elected congressional members. As of 2011, 89 of the 435 voting members of Congress are women.
Women hold roles of leadership across a range of professional fields. At rates equal to or greater than men, women hold leadership roles in the fields of education, nursing, and in the nonprofit and social service sector. However, women leaders remain the exception in most high-revenue industries, such as engineering, technology and resource extraction. As of 2010, only 15 of the Fortune 500 companies were run by women, and only 28 Fortune 1,000 companies employ women in senior-level positions.
As women's prominence in positions of leadership is strongly affected by social and cultural values, large differences exist between countries. An important topic of study in reference to women in leadership is the examination of existing international differences, with attention to how and why women's roles in leadership vary depending on national context. This topic of study could include discussion of the religious, historical or political factors that shape the ability of women to assume positions of authority.
Although impressive gains have been made in women's economic and social position in both the U.S. and abroad, numerous barriers to advancement remain. One critical topic of study addresses the historic and current barriers to women attaining positions of leadership. This topic could examine the effect of sexual stereotyping in the workplace, the social and political structures that shape the balance between work and mothering, and the gender assumptions that influence perceptions of power and success.