Gender Diversity Research Articles

The Interplay between Board Gender Diversity, Earnings Quality, and Return Volatility: Considering the Reputation of Corporate Awards

The Interplay between Board Gender Diversity, Earnings Quality, and Return Volatility: Considering the Reputation of Corporate Awards

Ownership structure, board composition and CEO dominance: what does really matters to corporate deleveraging policies?

Purpose The role played by corporate governance mechanisms on corporate deleveraging policies has not been clarified. Empirical evidence is confined to developed economies, even with conflicting and inconclusive results. This paper aims to examine the role of corporate governance mechanisms, such as ownership structure, board composition and CEO dominance, in explaining corporate deleveraging policies. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of listed Pakistani firms between 2010 and 2022, this study resorts to binary response models to examine the effects of governance mechanisms on firms’ decision to go debt-free. Findings A greater ownership concentration, institutional ownership and family ownership increase the propensity for zero leverage. Board gender diversity decreases the propensity for deleveraging policies, which seems to indicate that the presence of females reinforces the monitoring function of the board. Finally, lower managerial ownership or CEO dominance decreases the propensity toward zero leverage (interest convergence hypothesis), but higher managerial ownership or CEO dominance increases the propensity toward zero leverage (managerial entrenchment hypothesis). Practical implications Risk-averse managers who prefer to control a firm using little or no debt will find it easier to implement these financing policies in firms with greater ownership concentration and where institutional holders have a substantial stake. For shareholders, this study suggests that investing in firms with females on board reduces the risk of corporate deleveraging policies being adopted for entrenched reasons. Social implications The presence of females on board seems to decrease the propensity of managers to adopt opportunistic actions and may also contribute to enhancing human welfare and society in developing countries. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study considering the effect of board diversity on zero leverage. Another singularity is that this study exhibits a nonlinear relationship between managerial ownership and corporate deleveraging policy.

Mobility of non-binary and gender nonconforming individuals: A systematic literature review

The gendered nature of travel behaviours and experiences have long been recognised in research and policy making. However, research on non-binary people and their mobility is scarce, as is the acknowledgement of a spectrum nature of gender within the transportation discipline. This paper presents the first systematic literature review, using PRISMA guidelines, of the mobility and travel experiences of non-binary people. The review identified that to date the main research domains for non-binary people's mobility considered issues of harassment and violence on public transit, fear, security measures, intersectionality, and strategies to deal with discrimination. The paper highlights spatial and geographical constraints, such as immobility and inaccessibility, that non-binary people face when interacting with public transportation system. Strategies to improve mobility for the gender nonconforming community included upgrading public transport stations, increasing funding for public transportation, and providing gender diversity training for transit workers. The findings draw attention to the need for substantial further transportation research into the field. By including non-binary perspectives in transport research, a unique range of insights and experiences can be unlocked, while increasing inclusivity in transport research.

Utilization of Psychosocial Support for Young Adults with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

The study explores the utilization of psychosocial support by young adults facing suicidal ideation or impulses, considering a comprehensive spectrum of psychosocial services. The study sheds light on help utilization and gaps in service use among different groups. The data is derived from the baseline assessment of the research project "Outcome Evaluation [U25]". The sample includes 888 young adults who reported suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Among the participants, 55% accessed at least one psychosocial service. Medical/psychotherapy services were the most utilized (54%), followed by professional counseling (34%) and non-professional self-help services (22%). Gender differences were observed, with males using help less frequently than females and individuals with diverse gender identities. Participants in relationships were less likely to seek help than singles. A migrant background showed no consistent impact on service utilization. Psychological distress and suicide literacy were associated with increased service utilization. Regression analysis revealed that gender and relationship status remained predictors of service utilization even when considering mental distress, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and suicide literacy.

Beyond Force, Incapacitation, or Verbal Coercion: Rates and Outcomes of Sexual Assault without Warning

ABSTRACT To date, most sexual assault research has focused on specific perpetrator tactics, including verbal coercion, substance-related incapacitation, and force. Responding to recent calls to assess a broader range of nonconsensual sexual experiences, we examined the occurrence and outcomes of sexual assault without warning – when a perpetrator “just does” a behavior without giving a chance to say “no.” Participants were 850 college students (Mage = 19.70; 70% cisgender women, 28% cisgender men, 2% transgender/gender expansive), including 38% (n = 325) who reported sexual assault since age 14. Among these survivors, 72% reported sexual assault without warning, including 18% for whom this was the only tactic experienced. Sexual assault without warning was most often used to obtain nonconsensual sexual contact (23% of the sample) but also attempted (11%) and completed penetration (13%). Relative to no such experience, sexual assault without warning was associated with more severe posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety, but fewer past-month drinks per week. Although more alcohol use and related consequences were better predicted by incapacitated sexual assault, sexual assault without warning was consistently associated with mental health problems. Findings support the integration of this tactic into sexual assault assessments for college students of diverse gender and sexual identities.

Gender diversity on corporate boards: international evidence on commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

PurposeCountries globally have implemented policies or regulations promoting greater gender diversity in boardrooms. We investigate whether gender diversity on corporate boards leads to higher Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) commitment through these disclosures.Design/methodology/approachUsing 16,659 firm-year observations across 42 countries for the years 2019 and 2020, we use disclosure data from the Refinitiv database to measure the sample firms’ stated commitment to sustainable development.FindingsOur data provide useful comparative information on the countries, legal jurisdictions and types of SGDs currently being disclosed. Our analyses reveal that gender diverse boards are associated with greater levels of SDG disclosures, with such commitment being more significant when there is more than one woman on the board. We also find that women board members are associated most with the PEOPLE and PLANET groups within the SDGs, and our results are robust to additional analyses and endogeneity concerns.Originality/valueAlthough gender diversity has been examined within a corporate social responsibility and ethical, social and governance lens, this examination needs to be extended to the SDGs, given the latter’s multi-year horizon and involvement from governments, the private sector and a very broad cross-section of the global community. Our results reinforce global calls for increasing gender representation at the highest levels of organisations to meet the expectations of a greater range of stakeholders in terms of SDG commitment.

Women in C-suite: Does Top Management Team gender diversity matter? Evidence from firm investment efficiency

Firms with relatively more female executives in their top management team exhibit superior investment efficiency. Economically, female non-CEO executives increase investment efficiency by almost 11 % of the cross-sectional mean of our investment efficiency measure. Further analysis shows that this increase in efficiency is driven by the reduction in both overinvestment and underinvestment. In addition, efficiency is more pronounced in less competitive markets, during industry shock periods, and in firms with less competent or outsider CEOs. Our findings highlight that women in C-suite play a significant positive role in effective investment decision-making.

Parents’ views on gay male teachers in early childhood education

ABSTRACT The stigma surrounding men’s sexuality in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is complex and part of a sexuality hierarchy within which homophobic, emasculating and disparaging undertones are often used to label male teachers in ECE as gay. In this paper the authors demonstrate the complex and gendered ways in which this stigma unfolds in a South African context and offer a decolonising gender perspective to highlight how the country’s socio-political context impacts on how parents respond to gay men in ECE. The parents in this study expressed tolerance and acceptance of gay men’s involvement in ECE. Notwithstanding, these diverse views, many parents’ tolerance and acceptance of gay men in ECE was found to be powerfully structured along a discriminatory heterosexist culture. Despite this, some parent’s acceptance of gay male teachers in ECE were underpinned by gender-progressive attitudes to focus on curtailing gender discrimination and promoting gender diversity and inclusivity at school.

Breaking gender-segregated dormitories: constructing a sustainable development space

The establishment of an atmosphere characterized by gender equality and the provision of a safe and inclusive public space are fundamental objectives for advancing the sustainable coexistence of diverse gender groups. This study specifically examines the two primary challenges associated with transforming university dormitories in Taiwan, where most male and female students reside separately, into gender-inclusive housing (GIH). These challenges include assessing factors that influence students’ willingness to reside in GIH and exploring the compromises made by institutional managers during the spatial transformation process. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this research employs a questionnaire survey methodology to gather insights into students’ perspectives regarding implementing GIH. The findings indicate that factors such as transgender literacy, attitudes toward GIH, subjective norms related to GIH, and perceived behavioral control regarding GIH significantly influence students’ willingness to live in such accommodations. Notably, the willingness to accept GIH was found to be higher among male students compared to their female counterparts. The gradual adjustment of GIH construction is deemed feasible. This paper demonstrates that modifying the campus living environment can facilitate students’ ability to communicate normally across multiple genders, thereby enhancing the feasibility of gender-related discussions within these spaces.

Learning on a Limb: An outreach module to engage high school students in orthopaedics.

Orthopaedic researchers need new strategies for engaging diverse students. Our field has demonstrated noticeable gaps in racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, which inhibit our ability to innovate and combat the severe socioeconomic burden of musculoskeletal disorders. Towards this goal, we designed, implemented, and evaluated Learning on a Limb, an orthopaedic research outreach module to teach diverse high school students about orthopaedic research. During the 4-hr module, students completed hands-on activities to learn how biomechanical testing, microcomputed tomography, cell culture, and histology are used in orthopaedic research. Over three years, we recruited 32 high school students from the Greater Philadelphia Area to participate in Learning on a Limb. Most participants identified as racial/ethnic or gender minorities in orthopaedic research. Using pre/post-tests, we found that students experienced significant learning gains of 51 percentage points from completing Learning on a Limb. In addition to teaching students about orthopaedic research, post-survey data demonstrated that participating in Learning on a Limb strongly influenced students' interest in orthopaedic research. Several students acted on this interest by completing summer research experiences in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. Learning on a Limb instructors also benefited by having the opportunity to "pay it forward" to the next generation of students and build community within their department. Empowering institutions to host modules like Learning on a Limb would synergistically inspire diverse high school students and strengthen community within orthopaedic departments to ultimately enhance orthopaedic research innovations.

Academic difficulties, education-related problems, and discrimination among Thai gender-diverse medical students: a cross-sectional study of Thai medical schools

BackgroundMedical students with sexual and gender diversity (SGD) often face challenges in educational performance and encounter more education-related problems, potentially due to discrimination in medical schools. This study aimed to compare academic difficulties, education-related issues, and experiences of discrimination among medical students with SGD versus those identifying as non-SGD.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Participants included a convenient sample of medical students aged at least 18 from five Thai medical schools, all recruited during the 2021 academic year. General demographic data, academic difficulties, education-related problems, and both positive and negative aspects of medical education, encompassing physical aspects, supporting systems, and discrimination, were assessed. The descriptive data and comparison between SGD and non-SGD medical students were performed. Binary logistic regression was adopted to evaluate the association between characteristics of discrimination in each categorized type of gender diversity.ResultsAmong 1322 medical students, 412 (31.2%) described themselves as having SGD. There was no significant difference in academic performance between SGD and non-SGD students. However, SGD students reported higher dropout thoughts (39.8% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.001) and self-perceived burnouts (84.2% vs. 74.9%, p < 0.001). The SGD group perceived lower support from medical staff and higher inadequate financial support (30.3% vs. 22.1%, p < 0.01; 11.2% vs. 23.1%, p < 0.01, respectively). 64.44% of students reported witnessing at least one form of discrimination. Lesbian students were more likely to report witnessing discrimination (OR = 3.85, [1.05–14.16]). Gay students were significantly associated with experiencing sexist remarks (OR = 6.53 [3.93–10.84]) and lower selectively prohibited educational opportunities (OR = 0.36 [0.21–0.63]).ConclusionsWhile academic performance did not differ between medical students with SGD and their non-SGD peers, SGD students reported more academic difficulties and perceived less support from medical staff and financial support. They also reported a higher incidence of discrimination. The need for specific interventions to address these issues should be further explored.

The Cultural Paradox of All-Male Performance: (Dis)Figuring the Third Beauty in the Studio Life’s Twelfth Night

The aim of this article is to explore the ambiguous and unstable boundaries of gender images depicted in Studio Life’s Twelfth Night (2011) where male actors perform female characters similar to the practice on the Shakespearean stage. As Akira Uno, one of the influential illustrators of Japanese shōjo manga, participated in designing the stage set, costumes, and make-up of the characters, the production presents the effect of “the third beauty.” This is characterised by both masculine and feminine attributes while simultaneously being neither masculine nor feminine. This unique feature reflects the position of women in modern Japanese society, where representations of female gender and sexuality are often marginalised and oppressed under the male-dominated social atmosphere. Consequently, the image of female gender has been rigidly fixed and stereotyped according to traditional norms. In this setting, the effeminate and beautiful boys in an exotic place become surrogates for females, who can freely explore their gender and sexual identity within the illusory world, where both homoerotic and heterosexual relationships are explored. Studio Life’s Twelfth Night reflects this illusion by adapting the styles of shōjo manga, but the production seldom offers critical insights or questions on gender issues, especially in the context of the realities faced by Japanese women in daily life. This article examines descriptions of female characters performed by male actors and interviews with the director, Kurata Jun. The main focus is on how the artists perceive and express the concept of gender in relation to Japanese social conditions, demonstrated through their physical portrayals and gestures in all-male casting.

Social cure model: testing the link between identity centrality and body appreciation in diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups

BackgroundThe level of experienced sociocultural pressure to have an idealized body can vary depending on a person’s gender identity and sexual orientation. The current study explored whether differences in levels of body appreciation among people with different sexual orientations and gender identities vary because of differing levels of experienced pressure by in-group members and varying levels of experienced hostile behaviors because of their looks or body. Thereby, the study tests the social cure model, according to which high levels of identity centrality are associated with better mental health.MethodsAn online cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with 1,587 people (51.3% cisgender women, 39.3% cisgender men, 9.5% non-binary; 52.9% identified as heterosexual, 27.7% identified as bisexual/pansexual, 11.2% identified as gay/lesbian, 8.2% identified as asexual/demi/queer; Mage = 32.9, SD = 12.6) from German-speaking countries. Variables were assessed with German-language versions of the Multidimensional and Multicomponent Measure of Social Identification, Body Appreciation Scale-2, the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire, and the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4, revised. A manifest-path model was calculated.ResultsNon-binary persons reported lower levels of body appreciation than did cisgender men and sexual minority persons reported lower levels of body appreciation than did heterosexual persons. Furthermore, sexual minority persons experienced more hostile behaviors directed towards them because of their looks or body than did heterosexual persons. Similarly, non-binary persons experienced more hostile behaviors than did men. Non-binary persons were subjected to lower levels of in-group pressure than were men. Gay/lesbian persons and asexual persons were subjected to lower levels of in-group pressure than were heterosexual persons. More hostile behaviors and stronger in-group pressure were related to lower body appreciation. In cisgender women and men indirect links revealed associations between strong identity centrality and low levels of body appreciation through the mediator of high in-group pressure.ConclusionsData in sexual minority individuals or non-binary persons supported the social cure model, according to which persons can find support and validation for their looks and body from in-group members. In cisgender women and men, strong identification as a woman or man can be related to stronger in-group pressure and in turn to lower body appreciation.

Explaining heterogeneity in student diversity across economics departments

While the field of economics lacks diversity, there is little consensus on the underlying causes of or most effective solutions to this problem. The authors of this article combine data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) with data from their own survey of U.S. economics departments to identify institution and department characteristics associated with observed variation in gender and racial diversity of undergraduate students across departments. They focus their attention on student support, role modeling, course content, and the use of active learning pedagogy. While they find no significant associations between course content or student support with student diversity, they find that gender diversity in departmental faculty is a strong predictor and that active learning is positively associated with gender diversity.

Patient voices and student insights into LGBTQ+ healthcare: a call for equitable healthcare through medical education

ABSTRACT Purpose Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) individuals have health needs specific to their identities. However, they face discrimination and cis-heteronormativity in most patient-provider interactions, which often translate into poor healthcare. Evidence suggests doctors are inadequately trained to care for LGBTQ+ patients. Medical students are well-placed as the future workforce to establish affirming behaviours. This study garners LGBTQ+ patients’ healthcare experiences, where limited qualitative evidence exists, and explores whether students have insight into these experiences. Method Thirty LGBTQ+ patients and twenty students, evenly divided between Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK), two legally and culturally different countries, consented to semi-structured interviews in 2022 to evaluate their LGBTQ+ healthcare perceptions. Thematic analysis was conducted using a collaborative, iterative process involving five investigators, with frequent auditing of data interpretation. Results Most patients described implicit biases with a lack of support and professionalism from doctors, hindering health outcomes. Patients experienced misgendering and a lack of recognition of sexual and gender diversity; students appreciated the need to acknowledge patient identity. Although perceptions surrounding certain themes were similar between patients and students in both countries, patients’ voices on the complexity and dissatisfaction of gender-diverse care contrasted with students’ lack of insight on these themes. Singapore patients were more concerned with sociolegal acceptance affecting health needs, whilst UK patients noted more nuanced barriers to healthcare. Although many students were unsure about specific health needs and perceived a lack of training, they expressed willingness to create an equitable healthcare environment. Conclusions LGBTQ+ patients provided powerful narratives on discrimination surrounding their healthcare needs. To address these, medical students must be encouraged by healthcare educators to develop identity-affirming behaviours as future change-makers and challenge cis-heteronormative views. Alongside vital institutional changes tailored to each country, patients’ and students’ collective action would create meaningful educational opportunities to reach culture change.

Racial Bias in Academia: An Audit Experiment Revealing Disparities in Faculty Responses to Prospective Students

Building on Milkman, Akinola, and Chugh (2015), this article presents data from an experiment conducted in Australia that included fictional emails from prospective students seeking a meeting with faculty members. The results show significantly different responses from faculty depending on the student’s name and association with a racialized group. While the study reveals evidence of racial bias, there is, contrary to previous studies, little evidence of gender bias. Additionally, the study concludes that gender or racial diversity at the university or discipline level is not associated with lower rates of bias. Additional exploratory analysis further examines the data for evidence of change processes, including the interaction of gender and racial diversity, and lower rates of bias among more junior academics.

EFL Students’ Interpretation of Implicature and Gender Representation in Memes

EFL Students’ Interpretation of Implicature and Gender Representation in Memes

Board gender equality and ESG performance. Evidence from European banking sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between board gender equality and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the European banking sector. The study examines whether and how the presence of women on the board of directors (BoD) influences ESG dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed a sample of 72 European Union banks for the period 2015–2021 and developed an econometric model applying unbalanced panel data regression with firm fixed effects and controls per year. To test the research hypotheses, the authors considered gender equality in terms of female participation on the BoD and measured ESG dimensions by using the ESG score provided by Refinitiv.FindingsThe findings suggest a significant positive relationship between the number of women on BoD and the ESG performance of European banks only up to a certain threshold of female directors (at least three women). The study also explores how the proportion of women on BoD influences the individual ESG pillars. The results show that the percentage of female directors has a positive and statistically significant impact on the social dimension of the ESG framework.Research limitations/implicationsThe investigation is highly relevant to investors considering ESG issues in their decision-making process. The overall findings support policymakers and regulators on how to improve ESG performance through the design and the application of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms. From a managerial perspective, the study suggests that managers and CEOs should focus their efforts on establishing the right gender combination of directors on bank BoDs.Originality/valueThis paper offers an in-depth examination of the CG practices of banks, and it attempts to bridge the gap in prior literature on the determinants of ESG issues in the European banking industry. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that investigates the relationship between the representation of women on BoDs and the ESG dimensions measured by the Refinitiv Eikon score. The use of critical mass theory adds a fresh perspective to the literature on ESG in Europe since the influence of board gender diversity on ESG performance of the European banks is still unaccounted for. This study addresses this pressing research issue drawing on resource dependence, agency and legitimacy theories.

Evaluation of the Potential of AI to Foster Gender Diversity in Leadership Positions in Germany

Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in Germany. This article explores whether AI could support gender diversity in leadership. After analyzing current diversity data, we identified hurdles for women in leadership from literature. We evaluated AI’s potential to promote gender diversity through examples of AI tools from professional and private life. Four potential areas for AI assistance were identified: i) recruitment, ii) personalized time-management, iii) career development, and iv) networking and mentoring. These AI tools could particularly benefit women by addressing identified obstacles. The literature on this specific topic is limited, making this article a valuable foundation for further research.

The diverse but common definitions of sex for young people in Australia

ABSTRACT Relationships and sexuality education is a key strategy for promoting safe sex and respectful relationships during adolescence. Understanding the ways in which young people define sex is critical to ensuring a shared understanding between sexual health educators and students. Young people aged 14–18 years (N = 6,043) who participated in a large-scale cross-sectional Australian study were asked to indicate whether various sexual practices (e.g. vaginal, anal or oral sex, genital rubbing, mutual masturbation) were included in their definition of ‘sex’. Associations between demographic characteristics, sexual experiences, and definitions of sex were identified using multiple logistic regression. Content analysis further examined open-text responses from 63 participants who expanded on their definitions. Almost all participants (99.1%) included vaginal sex in their definition of sex, 83.7% included anal sex and 59.7% included oral sex. Young people also included a diverse range of sexual practices that did not consistently align with common definitions used in sexuality education and sexual health promotion campaigns. Definitions of sex differed by gender and sexuality suggesting that when discussing sex with young people, educators and health professionals need to consider sexuality and gender diversity and take care to check common understanding of terminology.