In 2020, microaggressions or other discriminatory behaviour toward girls and women is still an issue. If you are surprised by this statement, then consider that this behaviour is being endured by a whopping 73% of women. The data is not from a repressive regime in the developing world, rather it is from the United States of America. In a work scene, that means 3 out of 4 women will cop a verbal indignity - daily.
Whether microaggressions are intentional or not, they instantly add a degree of difficulty for a woman to succeed in the workplace or in our community. International Women's Day Lean In report shows that while we have made some great strides,there is still more to be done.
The number of women in senior leadership has grown over the years, but they are still underrepresented in each level of management. For every 100 men who are promoted or hired to a manager role only 72 women achieve the same result.
Gender balance is an economic issue not a women’s issue, and that’s why we thought it important to see how Australia’s charities rate, given they represent $129b to our economy.
The Impact Suite has reviewed both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations for their actual action (and not intent) on promoting women to boards.
According to the latest Workplace Gender Equality Agency data women make up 30.7% of Board Directors on ASX 200 companies. It is pleasing to see the 30% target has finally been achieved, however if we look at the broader list of All Companies,the result is 26.8%. This list further deteriorates with 34% of Boards and governing bodies having no female directors. That’s 1 in 3 companies with no women on the board. Compare this to only 0.9% with no male directors.
There is still a lot of work to do as the following chart highlights the stark differences. Women on average are more educated than their male counterparts, but the proportion of women in senior roles is significantly lower.
The Impact Suite has reviewed more than 57,000 Charities in Australia and found the sector is performing very well compared to Australia’s for-profit companies. We reviewed both the number of Directors on Charity Boards identifying as women, as well as the percentage who are Chairs.
The Impact Suite would like to congratulate the Charity sector for their results. The not-for-profit sector has well over 30%representation, a goal still not met by all companies listed on the ASX.
It certainly sets an example for companies around Australia.
The question remains, why is the Charity sector outperforming Australian companies in gender equality? Are more women taking up Charity Board roles because they are facing gender discrimination in the for-profit sector? Is it that the Charity sector values the contribution of women with not only their education, but also for other skills such as leadership styles and empathy? The Impact Suite would be very interested in the answers to these questions and we encourage you to share your thoughts or leave a comment.
Whether it is a Charity or for-profit organisation, Australians need to have trust in who they donate to or invest in and engage with. If the Board of that organisation does not reflect the community it supports or their customer base, trust is immediately at risk and challenged by the consumer and supporter. Diversity of thought comes from diversity within the Board and the organisation. This goes beyond gender and is absolutely about human rights and social impact. The Impact Suite looks forward to sharing further findings and analysis.
