Description
Book SynopsisPR Women with Influence: Breaking Through the Ethical and Leadership Challenges makes a unique and timely contribution by exploring how women in public relations navigate through attitudinal, structural and social barriers in advancing their leadership roles. The book is thoroughly grounded in rich empirical evidence gained through two phases of a funded research project conducted in the field. Phase I involves 51 in-depth interviews with current female leaders in public relations and Phase II captures women's perceptions on gender-related barriers in leadership advancement by recruiting a national panel of female public relations professionals.
Results presented in this book provide a compelling, current picture of women and leadership in public relations. By emphasizing our discussion on key issues and barriers as related to women in PR and their leadership advancement, the authors call for real actions and change to develop a constructive ecosystem within the organi
Trade Review
“PR Women with Influence focuses on women who’ve advanced their leadership in PR. It was written by two women who are leading PR scholars and educators. But men, WE most need to read the book. Then take meaningful actions, large and small, to enrich our organizational cultures to embrace leadership for women in PR.” —Dr. Bruce K. Berger, Professor Emeritus, Department of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Alabama
“Besides being important from a diversity, equity and inclusion perspective, PR Women with Influence is a must-read for men and women responsible for managing talent in our profession. It also might help improve the average grades PR executives have been receiving from the biennial Plank Center Report Card.” —Ron Culp, veteran corporate and agency executive who now consults and teaches
“PR Women with Influence advances knowledge in the public relations field by providing specific advice for young professionals about the challenges they may face in advancing to leadership positions and how to successfully overcome them.” —Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, Professor & Chair, Department of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media, Baylor University
“PR Women with Influence is a timely book that examines the ethics counseling and leadership challenges that women in public relations face today. Meng and Neill blend the existing literature regarding women and leadership with their own survey and interviews with leading women practitioners to explore topics such as the situational barriers to PR women’s leadership advancement, how these women define and achieve influence in the field, and how they approach ethics counseling. It also includes the additional challenges women of color face. Importantly, Meng and Neill show us not just where women are today in public relations, but also set out a constructive path for needed change. The book would make an excellent addition to senior- and graduate-level courses in public relations.” —Dr. Karla K. Gower, Director of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, Behringer Distinguished Professor, Department of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Alabama
Table of Contents
List of Figures – List of Tables – Foreword – Preface – Acknowledgments – In Search of PR Women with Influence: Definition, Meaning and the Unbalanced Leadership Scene – Introduction: Why Study PR Women with Influence – Research Design and Methods: How We Approach This Subject – A Grand Landscaping: National Survey Results on PR Women’s Leadership and Ethical Challenges – Situational Barriers to PR Women’s Leadership Advancement – Ethical Leadership and the Meaning of Building Influence to Women in PR – PR Women’s Leadership Development and Participation Opportunities – Balancing Professional and Family Responsibilities: The Roles of Instrumental Support and Mentoring – Deep Conversations: Insights and Lessons from Current Women Leaders in PR – How Women in PR Define and Achieve Influence – How Women in PR Approach Ethics Counsel – Support Network: Work-Family Integration and the Influence of Mentors for Women in PR – Synthesis and Summary: Building a Constructive Path to Drive Change – Building an Ecosystem: A Constructive Path to Leadership for Women in PR – Index.
