Dispositions of Female Leaders in Modern History  

According to the DISC theory by psychologist William Marston, there are four types of behavioral traits: Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Compliance. The following briefly explains these 4 traits and gives examples of female leaders who exhibit these traits.


A leader who exhibits the Dominant trait is a visionary. She is decisive and has a good instinct for making the right decisions. They are visionaries because they see how to change things for the better. They are usually introverted and allow others to improve upon their work.

Examples of dominant female leaders are Marie Curie and Golda Meir. The Nobel Prize-winning Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist who pioneered the field of radioactivity. Golda Meir was the fourth Prime Minister of Israel; her various roles as a leader throughout her life contributed much to the rise of Israel as a nation.

A leader who exhibits the Inducement trait is a peacemaker. She is also decisive and acts quickly. However, she is open to people and works with them to achieve her goals. They are peacemakers because they inspire people to work together to improve everyone’s overall condition.

Examples of female peacemakers are Jane Goodall, who pioneered the study of chimpanzees, allowing for a better understanding of how humans are related to animals, and Mother Theresa, who dedicated her life to helping the poorest of people.


A person who exhibits Submissive form of leadership is stalwart. Her actions are slow and cautious, but she engages people and drives them to persevere. She is a most suited to lead during difficult times.

A stalwart leader understands that she is facing an almost insurmountable challenge, but is not overwhelmed by it. Perhaps the supreme example of a stalwart female leader is Margaret Thatcher, who was Britain’s Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. In Singapore, former Minister Lim Hwee Hua may be considered a stalwart leader.

Lastly, a Compliant leader is a problem solver. She, too, is very thoughtful of her actions. Instead of engaging people, she works from behind and uses a tactical approach to solve problems using various means.

Hilary Clinton, the former US Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady, is an example of a female problem solver. During her time in office, she maneuvered various difficult political and even personal problems to become a leading political figure for over two decades.


19 Jan 2016