A new survey shows the number of companies with both sexes
represented on their boards has fallen by 16 over the past year, while
the number of companies has risen by more than two thousand. The share
of companies with both sexes present in their boardrooms has fallen
from 15 to 14 percent. In a bid to improve gender equality Iceland’s
parliament has now legislated for female representation on boards of
public companies employing more than 50 people. By September 2013 there
must be at least 40 percent of either sex in boardrooms.
Dr Herdís Þorgeirsdóttir, professor and president of the European
Women Lawyers Association, says companies, institutions and public
offices in Iceland don’t take gender equality seriously enough.
Árni Páll Árnason, Iceland’s Equality Minister, is convinced that
more female influence creates company growth, improves the running of a
company and increases equality.
But Dr Þorgeirsdóttir is not so sure.
“The principles are broken all the time,” she says. “We see this not
least in the continued salary divide between men and women.”
Equal companies do well
The Icelandic Association of Women Entrepreneurs, the Confederation
of Icelandic Employers, Iceland’s Chamber of Commerce and the market
research company Creditinfo last year signed an agreement to work
toward increasing the number of women leaders in Icelandic companies.
At the same time Creditinfo presented research showing companies
benefit from having female leaders. They live longer, discriminate less
and have fewer debts.
Dr Þorgeirsdóttir says society is homosexual – it doesn’t see women
as leaders or decision makers when it comes to important issues.
“In times of crisis men stick together in their positions of power,
perhaps allowing the odd woman in to make things look better. It is
time women supported each other – not in opposition to men, but for the
benefit of the whole of society.”
According to Creditinfo an increase in female board members leads to
an increase in women’s say in the running of companies.
Don’t expect male help
Dr Þorgeirsdóttir says women mustn’t wait for male leaders – who
aren’t all interested in gender equality issues – to help them reach a
position of power in a company, institution or in society. They won’t
help get their salary up to an equal level either.
“Women must step forward and cease the initiative for themselves,”
she says. The law is not enough, and not everyone follows it.
The Equality Minister, however, is convinced the law will lead to
considerable improvements.
“Since our requests weren’t enough it became imperative to take
direct action,” says Mr Árnason.
