Working mothers in the boardroom
Human Resource Management International Digest
ISSN: 0967-0734
Article publication date: 13 July 2012
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on the importance of ensuring that enough women take their place on boards of directors.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides statistics to underline the under‐representation of women in the higher echelons of companies. It looks at how the problem is being confronted in a number of countries. It examines what governments and companies could and should be doing to ensure adequate representation of women on boards of directors, and the advantages that flow from this.
Findings
The paper stresses the importance of career crunch points – particularly around childbirth – when women have to make the decision about how best to balance their home and working lives. It urges companies to support women through these periods through coaching.
Practical implications
The paper reveals that companies with strong representation of women on the boards of directors tend to perform better than those with all‐male boards.
Social implications
The paper highlights the cost to society of the under‐representation of women at the top of companies.
Originality/value
The paper examines, from an international perspective, the problem of under‐representation of women on boards of directors.
Keywords
Citation
Parke, C. (2012), "Working mothers in the boardroom", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 20 No. 5, pp. 3-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670731211249305
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited