Women who want to succeed at work should resist the temptation to act like men, scientists have said.

Studies show that assertive women are often less likely to get ahead than those who exhibit more feminine traits.

If however, they try to conform, promotion comes their way.

The findings, which will dismay feminists, suggest that the best way for a woman to succeed in a man's world is to act like a lady.

Past research has shown that women oozing with self-confidence, assertiveness and other characteristics linked with successful management can be sidelined at work in favour of meeker types.

It is thought that while such traits are highly-prized in men, go-getting women are penalised for not being feminine enough.

Instead of being seen as strong bosses, feisty women are perceived as being less likeable.

In one US study into the so-called 'backlash effect', volunteers were given a selection of CVs from university students applying for summer job at a bank.

A woman applicant who attempted to negotiate extras such as help towards their transport or living costs was three and a half times less likely to get a job offer than a similarlypushy male.

In fact, the pushy women were the least likely of the lot to get taken on.

The latest study set out to explore what women who are naturally assertive can do to get ahead in the workplace.

Eighty young men and women completed questionnaires about their personality and while doing master's degree in business administration in America.

Around eight years later, the researchers got back in touch with them to find out how their careers were going.

Some had been promoted five times, others just once or twice, a journal published by the British Psychological Society reports.

The results revealed that 'macho' women who were true to themselves had been promoted less than more feminine sorts.

But the bossy women who made a conscious effort to not appear to threatening by 'self-monitoring' their behaviour had done better than those who had carried on regardless.

(Read by Nelly Min. Nelly Min is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

点击查看更多双语新闻

(Agencies)