Sex stereotyping in the boardroom: Importance of women’s public-office backgrounds
Human Resource Management International Digest
ISSN: 0967-0734
Article publication date: 14 March 2016
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
The study’s findings reveal that the characteristics that impact the appointment of women as outside directors to public company boards differ from those of men. Relative to men, certain professions such as government relations and education improve the odds of appointment of women to corporate boards, while age lowers women’s odds. The number of network ties and the degree of network cohesion was also significant in predicting the likelihood of female board appointment to public corporations relative to men’s odds. The final model was able to predict female board membership correctly only in 28 per cent of the cases, while male board membership was predicted in 89 per cent of the cases, suggesting that factors other than human capital and professional networks (e.g. their gender) impact women’s appointment to corporate boards.
Practical implications
The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Keywords
Citation
(2016), "Sex stereotyping in the boardroom: Importance of women’s public-office backgrounds", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 29-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-12-2015-0177
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited