Quotas For Women Research Articles

Executives' pay–performance link in China: evidence from independent and gender-diverse compensation committees

PurposeIn this paper, the authors investigate whether an independent and gender-diverse compensation committee strengthens the relationship between top managers' pay and firm performance in Chinese companies. The authors also investigate whether the independent compensation committee composed of all male directors is effective in designing the optimal contract for executives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use data from A-share listed companies on the Shenzhen and Shanghai stock exchanges from 2005 to 2015. As a baseline methodology, the authors use pooled ordinary least square (OLS) regression to draw inferences. In addition, cluster OLS regression, two-stage least square regression, the two-stage Heckman test and the propensity score matching method are also used to control for endogeneity issues.FindingsThe authors find evidence that an independent or gender-diverse compensation committee strengthens the link between top managers' pay and firm performance; that the presence of a woman on the compensation committee enhances the positive influence of committee independence on this relationship; that a compensation committee's independence or gender diversity is more effective in designing top managers' compensation in legal-person-controlled firms than they are in state-controlled firms; that gender diversity on the compensation committee is negatively associated with top managers' total pay; and that an independent compensation committee pays top managers more.Practical implicationsThe study results highlight the role of an independent compensation committee in designing optimal contracts for top managers. The authors provide empirical evidence that a woman on the compensation committee strengthens its objectivity in determining top managers' compensation. The study finding supports regulatory bodies' recommendations regarding independent and women directors.Social implicationsThe study findings contribute to the recent debate about gender equality around the globe. Given the discrimination against women, many regulatory bodies mandate a quota for women on corporate boards. The study findings support the regulatory bodies' recommendations by highlighting the economic benefit of having women in top management positions.Originality/valueThis study contributes to literature by investigating the largely overlooked questions of whether having a gender-diverse or independent compensation committee strengthens the relationship between top managers' pay and firm performance; whether an independent compensation committee is more efficient in setting executives' pay when it is gender-diverse; and whether the effect of independent directors and female directors on top managers' compensation varies based on the firm's ownership structure. Overall, the main contribution of the study is that the authors provide robust empirical evidence in support of the managerial power axiom.

Political Reforms and Women’s Economic Empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)

Women empowerment is an important discourse among the academic circles, especially in the feminist debates. The economic independence of women remains under discussion too because it fuels their overall empowerment. This paper mainly concentrates to examine the impact of political changes on female’s economic empowerment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Moreover, this also focuses to know women’s knowledge about the political reforms brought for their empowerment. Liberal feminist camp supports the theoretical insights of this study. Empiricist epistemology guides the methodological application of the study. A sample of 400 women political representatives was taken through proportionate random sampling. Data were collected through interview schedule. Content analysis and independent sample t-test techniques helped in data analysis. Findings reveal some minor effects of the political reforms (i.e. increase of women quota in jobs and protection to women from workplace harassment); however, women’s economic independence in the study area still needs serious attention from different public and private stakeholders.

Breaking through the periphery: Growing role of women as leaders in Indian family businesses

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to explore whether the role of women was growing as leaders in Indian Family businesses. It attempted to find reasons for such change and to examine whether the change was benefitting family businesses. It also tried to find out whether there were any preferred sectors for women and whether gender-specific roles were changing. Methodology: Family-owned business companies were selected from the top 200 listed companies on BSE based on market capitalization to ensure availability of correct and reliable data. The analysis was carried out for women leaders in 62 family-owned business houses, where women were in the top management teams. Besides, cases of five women leaders were chosen for study based on parameters such as a minimum of 2 years in top management positions, sectors of the firms, educational qualifications of the businesswomen, levels of generation, contributions of the women leaders, career progression, and the grooming process adopted. The study was a qualitative analysis of exploratory nature. Findings: The study indicated rising trend of women holding senior positions. The analysis was performed to find out reasons for such a rising trend, the contribution of women, and whether it led to growth and better performance of such family businesses. Some of the factors identified in the study, which helped in increasing the role of women, were women getting higher education, being dissatisfied with their outside jobs, the shrinking size of families, and circumstances forcing women to join family businesses to help families in times of crises. The study also showed that women were contributing to all types of sectors in diverse functional roles. Therefore, there was nothing like the preferred sectors for women. Implications: The finding that women in top management positions were contributing a lot in family businesses validates that the change in the statutory regulations to have gender-based quotas for women on corporate boards was a step in the right direction. The study may also prompt family businesses to have a greater proportion of women in top management teams. Originality: The information was compiled from websites of the companies, Bloomberg Business profiles, Bombay Stock Exchange, and other published literature. Companies’ annual reports were also used for reference purpose and cross verification. The study is both novel and original.

Women's absence in Sri Lankan politics: Lessons on the effectiveness and limitations of quotas to address under-representation

After decades of resistance to quotas – or reserved seats – as a means of addressing women's lack of representation in politics, Sri Lanka introduced a highly complicated and little-understood series of electoral laws to establish a quota for women at the local government level (LGL). Local government elections in February 2018 marked their inaugural implementation. Drawing on nearly five decades of global academic literature analysing quotas and utilising a five-pronged framework for understanding the goals that quotas are designed to achieve, this paper assesses the LGL quota against those objectives. Based on key-informant interviews and data from the 2018 election, I consider (i) the extent to which we might expect an increase in the space and respect for women politicians in Sri Lanka; (ii) the likelihood that elected women can deliver a gender-responsive political agenda for their female constituents; and (iii) the extent to which the quota can help redefine political norms in Sri Lanka.

Markets and Spillover Effects of Political Institutions in Promoting Women’s Empowerment: Evidence From India

This study presents fresh evidence that market interventions aimed at empowering women are more effective in the presence of formal political institutions, using the case of political reservations for women in Indian local governments. It uses data from 2,423 households in 100 Indian villages and accounts for endogeneity through the instrumental variable method to investigate women engaged in the Indian dairy sector following the implementation of India’s National Dairy Plan, which seeks to connect women with formal retail markets. Results suggest that while markets provide “passive” forms of agency to women, political representation can transition this to “active” forms of agency, allowing women to exhibit purposeful behavior. However, spillover effects of reservations (quotas) do not contribute significantly to women’s intrahousehold agency since they continue to depend on male counterparts for routine and intermittent decisions. Additionally, in community matters, the cumulative effect of reservations is more pronounced than standalone market impacts. HIGHLIGHTS Development interventions aimed at connecting women with labor markets have limited, short-term impacts on women’s agency because the ability of women to influence household decisions often depends on their social backgrounds. While the link between economic empowerment and development is weak, changes in social structures can promote women’s greater participation in decision making. Provisions in India’s 73rd Constitutional Amendment that propose political quotas for women in Indian local governments have helped loosen patriarchal social structures. Funding agencies and development organizations can generate larger and long-term empowerment outcomes for women by mounting market interventions in combination with more gender-inclusive formal political institutions.

Quotas and ballots: The impact of positive action policies on women's representation in Indonesia

AbstractThis article examines the impact of the legal candidate quota for women in Indonesia following the 2019 general elections. It argues that the legal candidate quota is working to increase women's numerical representation, even if progress is gradual and hard won. Second, it has become clear that the position of candidates on party lists is critical for electoral success. Awareness of this issue empowers women candidates and activists to lobby political parties to improve women's positions on party lists as a demonstration of political parties' commitment to gender equality. A third observation is that the turnover of women parliamentarians remains high, which means women still struggle to build careers as legislators and to effect legislative change in the interests of women. The article also addresses the role of political parties in selecting and promoting a minimum of 30% women candidates and argues that party structures are an obstacle, especially party organisations that purport to promote women's issues. Findings from this study suggest that Indonesia does not need major electoral reform to strengthen women's numerical representation in parliament. However, women candidates will need more support from political parties if they are to win and retain more seats.

Gender mainstreaming in the Nepalese rural transport sector: working towards transformative change

Nepal is progressive in mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion in the rural transport sector. Research studies were conducted using qualitative methods to assess the extent to which people living within the zone of influence of road and bridge projects have benefitted in two rural districts, namely, Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga. The projects in these districts were successful in meeting the quantitative targets. The project's targeting approach to provide employment to women and disadvantaged groups in construction projects had very positive impacts on their livelihoods. With increased incomes, people could send their children to schools, add wealth and start small businesses. However, heavy domestic duties constrain women's potential to participate fully in road/bridge construction. (For full participation, a worker is expected to work in road/bridge construction for 90 days in a year; the wages earned would fulfil their food sufficiency for a year for an economically poor family.) Project quotas for women in user committees have increased their representation, but they are hardly influencing decisions. Participation in training is at times constrained by factors such as women's domestic duties and distance to training venues. These wider issues need more attention in accommodating the specific needs, constraints and vulnerabilities of women to bring genuine transformations in the lives of women.

Do Gender Quotas Hurt Less Privileged Groups? Evidence from India

AbstractHow do political gender quotas affect representation? We suggest that when gender attitudes are correlated with ethnicity, promoting female politicians may reduce the descriptive representation of traditionally disadvantaged ethnic groups. To assess this idea, we examine the consequences of the implementation of random electoral quotas for women on the representation of caste groups in Delhi. Constituencies reserved for women are less likely than unreserved constituencies to elect members of groups where the status of women is low. In practice, this means they are less likely to elect members of several traditionally underprivileged groups (especially OBC castes) and more likely to elect candidates from the Hindu upper castes. The results highlight the difficulties of balancing descriptive representation on multiple, crosscutting dimensions, and the possible unintended consequences of the type of single‐dimension quotas currently proposed for inclusion in the Indian constitution.

Challenges and Opportunities for Indonesian Women's Participation and Representation in Legislative Power

This study aims to examine what are the opportunities and challenges for women political party members to be able to participate in elections, and what strategies can be taken to increase women’s representation in Parliamentary Elections in Indonesia. This research used qualitative research as the method. Data are collected from various secondary sources mainly from regulations, journal articles, government and non-government organization reports, book and others. The results show that women’s representation in Indonesia faces various challenges to participate in elections, including from political, social, cultural and economic factors. Strategy that can be done in increasing women’s representation is like the government review on the Law and several relevant regulations, with the aims to fulfill a thirty percent quota for women, and by improving the recruitment process of members of political parties.

Women’s presence in top management and the performance of microfinance institutions in West Africa

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the presence of women in senior management and the performance of microfinance organizations in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).Design/methodology/approachUsing a data set of 266 microfinance institutions (MFIs) for the period 2013–2017, the study assesses the impact of women’s representation in senior management and on the boards of West African MFIs on these institutions’ financial and social performance.FindingsThe results indicate that board size and diversity positively and significantly affect the social performance of MFIs, particularly in relation to women’s participation in decision-making regarding expanding services to poor people. In essence, greater gender diversity at the board and management levels promotes the social orientation of MFIs.Research limitations/implicationsThe low representation of women on boards and as managers makes it difficult to more accurately determine the true impact of women in senior positions on MFIs performance.Practical implicationsThe author recommends minimum quotas for women in the top management of MFIs. This would help these institutions incorporate key skills and actively involve all members. Also, regulation places constraints on the ability of West African MFIs to mobilize deposits and this negatively impacts their financial performance.Originality/valueThis investigation highlights the importance of including women in the top management of MFIs to improve these institutions’ performance. It also underscores an interesting problem and answers questions raised in the existing literature by either rejecting or confirming the findings. As players in the microfinance sector recognize that board diversity is important for the success of any microfinance institution, this paper helps shed light on the situation of these organizations in the WAEMU.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2019-0365

Women on the board and dividend payouts: the moderating effect of institutional ownership in France

This paper investigates the effect of institutional ownership on the relationship between the characteristics of the directors' board and dividend payouts after the law enforcement on mandatory female quotas in France. We test our hypotheses on a sample of listed firms belonging to the SBF 120 index over the period 2009–2014. We find that the enforcement of this law reduces dividend payouts of firms non-dominated by institutional investors. It has, however, no significant effect on firms' paid dividends which are controlled by institutional stockholders. Tests of the moderating effects reveal that institutional ownership negatively moderates the effect of the board size but, positively moderates the impact of the new quota of women directors on dividend payouts. Institutional investors are powerful in monitoring the large number of directors to retain cash. On the contrary, the new fractions of women directors assume independent roles in forcing insiders to distribute more dividends.

Women’s Absence in Sri Lankan Politics: Lessons on the Effectiveness and Limitations of Quotas To Address Under-Representation

After decades of resistance to quotas – or reserved seats – as a means of addressing women's lack of representation in politics, Sri Lanka introduced a highly complicated and little-understood series of electoral laws to establish a quota for women at the local government level (LGL). Local government elections in February 2018 marked their inaugural implementation. Drawing on nearly five decades of global academic literature analyzing quotas and utilizing a five-pronged framework for understanding the goals that quotas are designed to achieve, this paper assesses the LGL quota against those objectives. Based on key-informant interviews and data from the 2018 election, I consider (i) the extent to which we might expect an increase in the space and respect for women politicians in Sri Lanka; (ii) the likelihood that elected women can deliver a gender-responsive political agenda for their female constituents; and (iii) the extent to which the quota can help redefine political norms in Sri Lanka.

Women on the board and dividend payouts: the moderating effect of institutional ownership in France

This paper investigates the effect of institutional ownership on the relationship between the characteristics of the directors' board and dividend payouts after the law enforcement on mandatory female quotas in France. We test our hypotheses on a sample of listed firms belonging to the SBF 120 index over the period 2009–2014. We find that the enforcement of this law reduces dividend payouts of firms non-dominated by institutional investors. It has, however, no significant effect on firms' paid dividends which are controlled by institutional stockholders. Tests of the moderating effects reveal that institutional ownership negatively moderates the effect of the board size but, positively moderates the impact of the new quota of women directors on dividend payouts. Institutional investors are powerful in monitoring the large number of directors to retain cash. On the contrary, the new fractions of women directors assume independent roles in forcing insiders to distribute more dividends.

KEBIJAKAN 30% KETERWAKILAN PEREMPUAN DALAM DPRD MENURUT PERSPEKTIF ISLAM

Indonesia is one of the countries with the majority Muslim people in the world. Indonesia also joins to follow up the gender equality and women empowerment. One of the things is by increase the quota of women in house of representative. In case of Islam, most of the people are believe that the leader should be men. To assess this condition, this research aims to know the 30% women quota house of representative in Indonesia based on Islamic perspective.

Do the Quota Applications for Women on Boards Improve Financial Performance

In the context of corporate governance principles, governments set regulations to increase the sustainable representation of women on boards. This paper seeks to answer the question of whether or not the application of compulsory or voluntary quotas for female board members improves firm performance. Based on difference analyses on the 2011 principles of the Capital Markets Board (CMB), we do not find significant differences between the companies with at least one female member on their board and those without any female board members in terms of financial performance indicators (return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE), market value/book value (MV/BV)). Based on difference analyses on the 2014 principles of the Capital Markets Board, we further find that the ROA of the companies with 25% and more female members is lower than the companies with <25% female members. These results don’t support the arguments of agency theory, because government regulations including the efforts of women to increase their representation rate on the board in a sustainable manner don’t improve the accounting-based and market-based performance indicators of companies. If the company is successful, a quota for women cannot be imposed, because the obligation may result in a negative effect. Policymakers and practitioners may benefit from the knowledge that women may be improved and prepared for these positions and be accompanied with mentors before filling the compulsory or voluntary quota for women. It is not enough to increase the rate of women. The policy implication of the paper is that women must be equipped with the resources, authority, knowledge, and skills to perform well.

Kontroversi Sosial Caleg Perempuan PKS (Komunikasi Politik, Dogma Agama & Afirmasi)

This study aims to explain the implementation of government policies related to a 30% quota for women in the East Java PKS DPW, in addition to knowing its implementation. The social controversy responding to the PKS policy in presenting female legislative candidates aims to show to the public that there is a conflict between government policy and Islamic dogma which is the principle in the PKS. This study used qualitative research methods. The results showed that the implementation of government policies related to the 30% quota for women in the PKS East Java DPW had exceeded those specified, which was at 46%, whereas according to their interpretation that the prevailing religious dogma had no conflict between prevailing teachings with the government's policy of 30% of women's quota, all of them have their share in life. Al-Quran Surah An-Nisa verse 34 and Surah Al-Ahzab verse 33 textually prohibit women from becoming leaders, this is a source of religious dogma. Social controversy about women becoming leaders is eliminated when they have competence and capacity because the existence of leaders here is not in the context of congregational prayer but rather in carrying out state and national work programs .

The presence of women in Chilean medicine: from the times of Eloísa Díaz to this day

Though the presence of many women in medicine goes unnoticed today, their incorporation to the field was slow and difficult. It took until the end of the nineteenth century for women to be finally allowed to study at the University in Chile, being Eloísa Díaz the first woman to become a medical doctor in 1887. In that century, only six women became medical doctors. However, throughout the twentieth century, this small proportion of women in medicine increased at a similar rate as tuition did in the schools of medicine, especially from the 1960's when limited quotas for women were abolished. At present, women doctors constitute 40% of the total pool of medical doctors in Chile, being present in all specialties, though preferably found as general practitioners, family doctors and pediatricians. While many women have stood out in academia and in politics, they have also successfully reached high positions in scientific societies (and other offices such in the Health Ministry, and even the country's presidency) their participation is still limited in these areas. It is only fair to conclude that the outstanding participation that women in Chilean medicine enjoy today is not solely due to their long-lasting efforts, but more importantly, to their tireless struggle to overcome prejudice, discrimination and misunderstanding; the latter being especially represented by pioneer women of medicine.

National Board Quotas and the Gender Pay Gap among European Managers

As European countries have mandated quotas for women’s representation on boards, and as women have increasingly entered the ranks of management, a persistent gender gap in managerial pay remains. Drawing a sample of managers in the 2010 European Social Survey, the gender gap in pay was decomposed, finding that employer devaluation of women accounted for the majority of the gender gap in pay. This was especially true in countries without mandated quotas, but in countries that had adopted quotas for female representation on boards, results were consistent with the proposition that quotas moderated the labour market for managers (i.e. the gender gap in managerial pay was smaller as was the portion of the gap attributable to discrimination). As board quotas have increasingly been adopted across Europe, more research is needed on their ameliorative effects on gender inequality in the wider labour market.

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL-LEGAL DIMENSIONS OF THE GENDER IDENTITY PROBLEM

Purpose. Based on the comparative analysis of the European and post-Soviet countries, the purpose of the article is to study one of the manifestations of gender discrimination, namely the problem of gender equality in the sphere of labor. It involves the consistent solution to the following tasks: a) to emphasize the basic principles of gender international and legal policy; b) to reflect the praxeological dimension of providing the equal social and economic opportunities for men and women at current level; c) to emphasize the key criterion for ensuring the equality in socio-cultural sphere – equality in political life; d) to study the educational level of women and the possibility of self-realization in employment equal to men. Theoretical basis. The authors proceed from the standpoint that gender equality at the present stage has become a priority of legal policy and an important principle of the state (legal and democratic) of pro-European orientation. It is characterized in the legal plane, first of all, by the equality of the social roles of men and women, and the overcoming of the gender hierarchy of social ties, in which men are perceived as higher beings by their mental and physical abilities, and their activities are more significant and of priority in comparison with the activities of women. Originality. The authors have substantiated that in many economically developed countries the problem of providing a gender is still relevant, but most of the crisis problems in this area have found their legal regulation. The motivated position of the authors is that the level of education and professionalism of women cannot serve a reason for discrimination against women, which now exists in the economic and political sphere in the post-Soviet space. Conclusions. Gender stereotypes remain the priority in woman’s keeping family household, which creates significant inequalities of women and men at the labor market. Specialized regulatory acts in the field of gender declare the equality of men and women, while labor law defines a number of norms and guarantees that complicate the employment of women. In order to improve the situation we propose to implement a number of measures, such as, creation and financial support of the programs at the state level for supporting maternity, family and childhood; examination of all normative acts and concerning the issue of gender asymmetry, and especially the norms of labor law; introduction of state monitoring of employment and income of persons as to the complying with the principle of gender equality; introduction of quotas for women’s participation in political activities, in the work of the government and parliament, etc.

STRATEGY OF THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MODEL

The problems faced when approaching the election are many, one of which is the problem related to how to lobby politics to the public to use their voting rights so that they do not abstain. This problem that is often encountered can be solved by implementing the right political campaign model strategy. The strategy in political campaigns is a careful plan for activities to achieve specific goals where the activities carried out are carried out by political organizations or competing candidates to compete for positions in parliament in order to get the support of the mass of voters (voters) in voting. In line with Law No. 10 of 2008 concerning elections for members of the DPR, DPD and DPRD loaded with 30 percent quota for women in article 53, coupled with article 8 paragraph 1 mentioned regarding statements of at least 30 percent quota of women's representation in central party political party management as one of the requirements political parties to be able to become participants in the election. The purpose of this study was to find out in depth about the strategy of the political campaign model of female candidates in Blitar Regency as a method used by legislative candidates to attract their voters. This way of lobbying politics to the community has the aim of introducing candidates to the public through political campaigns that bring up the positive image of legislative candidates by involving the community. One way in which legislative candidates take to attract attention and get votes from various communities is starting from giving promises when campaigning. The subject of this research is that all the people and female candidates in Blitar Regency and the object of their research are the political campaign model strategies in Blitar Regency. The type of research used is qualitative research using the phenomenology approach. The phenomenology approach aims to describe the meaning of life experiences experienced by some individuals about certain concepts or phenomena by exploring the structure of human consciousness. So here the researcher wants to know the meaning of the experience experienced by the community and female candidates related to the political campaign model strategy through this phenomenology study. This research method uses a qualitative approach with interviews, observation, and documentation studies. This research produced a strategy model for political campaigns related to the phenomenon of female candidates in Blitar District.