Bridging the Gap: Generational and Cultural Lens on Women’s Followership Perceptions

Followership, though less examined than leadership, plays a pivotal role in organizational success and inclusivity. Women’s followership roles are particularly important in shaping sustainable organizational cultures amid growing globalization and workforce diversity. This study explored women’s perceptions of followership with three objectives: (1) to examine how Generation Z and older generations perceive followership roles, (2) to compare generational differences in followership perceptions, and (3) to analyze the impact of cultural backgrounds. Participants from collectivist and individualist contexts (Hofstede, 1983) were recruited through snowball sampling, data collected via open-ended, in-person interviews, and an approach well-suited for exploratory research. There were a total of 16 participants. Thematic analysis was conducted using MAXQDA, identifying themes and sub-themes, which revealed how generational identity and cultural norms shape women’s experience of followership. Findings provide practical strategies to bridge generational divides, foster inclusive leader-follower cohesion, and lay the groundwork for future research on women’s followership in global organizational contexts.