Working paper on an effective transformative equality strategy towards enhancing women’s representation in decision-making and leadership positions

This paper presents an analysis of gender disparities in leadership roles across public and private sectors, and across the countries represented in the project consortium, exploring their origins. It dissects the complex landscape of underrepresentation of women, employing both quantitative metrics, such as the Global Gender Gap Index, and qualitative approaches, such as the Gender Social Norms Index to depict a nuanced picture of the challenges women face in ascending to leadership positions. The paper argues that the problem is deeply rooted in societal norms and biases, going beyond mere statistics to reflect a systemic gender bias.

The paper also seeks to highlight effective laws, policies, and practices inspired by or embedded in a transformative equality approach (TEA). It therefore assesses the transformative nature and (potential) effectiveness of various approaches, including quotas, public awareness initiatives, and internal gender action plans. The exploration extends to the public as well as the private sector, scrutinising the impact of statutory quotas and voluntary codes of conduct in fostering gender diversity in politics and corporate boardrooms. The paper is also to be read in conjunction with D.2.2, which considers the laws and policies in place in the consortium countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, the UK, and South Africa) to enhance balanced gender representation in leadership and decision-making roles.