JuryVox

What Jurors’ Tell Us They Expect in Women and Leadership

In a PewResearchCenter study entitled Men or Women: Who’s the Better Leader? social researchers analyzed the responses of American adults on their notion of leadership traits and gender. The Pew study has some surprises for us about the nature of those gender preferences when it comes to the power to influence:

Of seven of eight leadership traits measured in this survey, the public rates women either better than or equal to men. Men were seen as only more decisive than women.  Both genders garnered equal ratings on ambition and hardworking. Women were seen as significantly more compassionate and creative than men. Women enjoyed a perception of greater honesty, intelligence and outgoingness.

The higher relational ratings denoting “caring” (compassion, honesty and outgoingness) are consistent with generally held stereotypes of female gender, but now find expression in leadership and influence related rolls. The “competence” traits of intelligence and creativity suggest some progress in the culture in refuting stereotypical notions that delimit women’s competence to non influential rolls in society.

When it comes to the more negative gender stereotypes, respondents say that women are the more emotional sex and they say women are more manipulative. On the other side of the ledger, respondents say men are the more arrogant sex and are the more stubborn gender.

One would think that jurors seem to be ready to endorse the credibility of a woman who embodies and demonstrates the leadership qualities described above, yet the persistent negative gender stereotypes directly affect juror perceptions of credibility.

The Pew Study points out, “Nevertheless, a mere 6% of respondents in this survey of 2,250 adults say that, overall, women make better political leaders than men. About one-in-five (21%) say men make the better leaders, while the vast majority — 69% — say men and women make equally good leaders.”

“On the one hand, the public asserts that gender discrimination against women and the public’s resistance to change are key factors holding women back from attaining high political office. But at the same time, the public gives higher marks to women than to men on most leadership traits tested in this survey — suggesting that, when it comes to assessments about character, the public’s gender stereotypes are pro-female. Moreover, a separate survey designed specifically to probe for hidden gender bias against women in voters’ assessments of candidates for Congress finds no evidence that such bias exists.”

If we posit that leadership includes the power to influence, then the Pew Study has implications for the preparation and presentation of women in trial testimony for optimal influence. It’s all about character:

1)     Focus upon confident and decisive presentation style. The goal is to attain “quiet confidence”. Not “hockey mom”, “octo-mom”, but rather think Michelle Obama..

2)      Emotional qualities are expected, but strive for a measured authenticity that is genuinely expressive rather than perceivable as manipulative. Over played and uncontrolled emotions are perceived as manipulative.

3)     Repeatedly review the content and narrative of testimony to insure mastery of fact pattern, evidence, and other testimony. The story is the context that holds the facts and testimony together in a meaningful way and story and fact mastery enhances perceived competence.

4)     The facts are like individual notes. It’s the sequence and relationship of the notes to each other that make the melody memorable.

5)     Include a subtext of accomplishments and efforts undertaken to arrive at her current situation. Bona fides should emphasize values of ambition, dedication, discipline, cooperatiion, compassion, and hardworking… seasoned with some struggle.

6)     Present a balance of professional and family values that find expression in her life. Don’t pretend “you can have it all”, but focus upon putting time and effort behind having what is important.

7)     Make her as attractive as possible, for whether we like it or not, first they look at the “looks”.

There is no one profile for the woman as influential and persuasive witness. The Pew Study tells us about what the common juror expects from a woman who wields influence. Preparing and presenting your influential woman to reflect the gender based expectations of the jury panel enhances the prospects of her testimony being heard, being persuasive and prevailing.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/safoocat/1996019102/