A new Catalyst research study reports that the number of female leaders on the boards of Fortune 500 companies is increasing slowly -- but surely. Between 2001 and 2003, the percentage of corporate director seats held by women rose from 9.5% to 13.6%.
If the current rate of increase continues, women will hold a quarter of all board seats in, well, 20 years. Looks like the Fortune 500 has a way to go. It's good to see that more than 50 of companies listed claim 25% female directors, but it's disheartening that an equal number seat none.
Related Stories: | Topics:Management, women in business, Business, Special Interest Groups, Company Activities and Information, Corporate Governance, Women's Issues |
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Recent Comments | 2 Total
December 6, 2003 at 9:51pm by Rayne
Am I supposed to be enthusiastic about this increase, when according to the 2000 Census, 46% of the workforce at that time was female?
What percentage of the workforce will women comprise in twenty years -- another GENERATION or more from now?
It's been nearly 40 years since Title VII of the Civil Rights Act became law. Two generations already and women have gained only 13.6% of seats at the corporate boardroom table?
One might argue an insufficiency of qualified women in the pipeline -- but the rate of women receiving bachelors doesn't support this. In 1960, 35 percent of bachelor's degrees were awarded to women; in 1980, women received 50%. Last year 57% of all bachelor's degrees were awarded to women.
We need to look real hard at the reasons why the boardroom isn't keeping up with the pipeline. After the debacles of Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Global Crossings, etc., I can't help but wonder if a few more women in the boardroom wouldn't help enormously.
January 8, 2004 at 11:17am by Jeannine Lanoux
I agree - yeah for the progress, but boo's because it is not reflective of what women can do. I was looking at job postings recently, and found one at a fortune 500 company. I looked them up on their corporate website and found I liked what they presented as their company values and beliefs. Then I clicked on the link for board members. Not one woman listed. The boardroom should reflect the population it serves...