Gender equality has become an important topic in many organisations. This study focuses on how gender performances of female managers affect the career opportunities for female managers in the public sector. The purpose of the study is to illustrate the problems that may be behind the low proportion of female heads in the swedish public sector agencies. The study consists of four different qualitative interviews with women in senior positions in the public sector. Previous studies show that men generally posses higher levels of power than woman do.The result of this study shows that there is stereotypical conceptions about women in senior positions. The study also shows that a negative attitude towards female leadership can limit female leaders influence and power.