Setting the Scene: Women on Boards: The Multiple Approaches Beyond Quotas

Abstract

This chapter sets out to provide an introduction to Gender Diversity in the Boardroom: European Perspectives on increasing female representation—Multiple approaches beyond quotas. We provide a rationale for focusing on the eight European countries; UK, Portugal, Slovenia, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and Hungary as well as including an international outward looking chapter in this edited volume. These are all examples of countries that have not, to date, introduced quota regulations for private sector boards. Yet we acknowledge that although quotas have not been introduced in the respective countries, the majority of countries have some sort of initiatives in relation to increasing the share of women on boards and discussions are flourishing in academic, political and private sector circles. Nevertheless, we see great variations in the design and approach among the countries and we observe a wide range of enabling and hindering forces important to acknowledge in order to understand the different country contexts.

Since finalising this book: On 23 June 2017, Portugal approved the government proposal submitted in February with gender representation regulations (quotas) for both state-owned and listed companies.