Kynjajafnrétti við stjórn atvinnulífsins: stefna, þróun og áhrif - verkefni lokið

Fréttatilkynning verkefnisstjóra

27.3.2018

The findings show that the number of women has increased on the corporate boards that are affected by the laws. However, a spread effect has not occurred accordingly, either on boards that are not affected by the quota laws, or in the executive management. The percentage of women serving as committee chairs has not increased either. The work life of female and male senior managers intrudes into the domestic sphere in distinct ways and women are left with fewer options than men about where and when to work. Also, male managers get more support from home, pointing to a gender disparity within families.

In general, the managers do not understand the underrepresentation of women in top leadership according to clear-cut demand vs. supply arguments, and they favor a combination of the two perspectives. However, there are some tensions in how women and men explain this situation. Female managers argue that “old men's network” still exists, that the working culture is still male oriented and that men do not trust women for to be top managers. Male managers, on the other hand, argue that times are changing and that women's time will come “by itself”. They also point out different deficiencies among women such as little commitment and that women are too tied to the family due to childbirth etc. to be able to have this kind of work. The results show that tension also exists between gender-neutral arguments and arguments about women's alleged special traits and qualifications. Arguments emphasizing the importance of women's special capabilities for the well-being of society and companies' profitability were at the heart of the quota legislation, and as such, proved successful. However, the findings also demonstrate the risk that female candidates are viewed as a signal of change in times of crisis. As such turbulent times are often difficult for the business, it may become a double-edged sword for women to be step forward in such times.

These results have both theoretical impact (by publishing reviewed papers) as well as practical impact (through discussion with stakeholders and policy makers). The debate about the pros and cons of the gender quota laws is prominent in Europe, and the results are an important contribution to the ongoing debate.

Publications

Articles in PhD dissertations and articles based on MA thesises

-Axelsdóttir, L. & Einarsdóttir, Þ. (2017) “The Realization of Gender Quotas in Post-collapse Iceland” in NORA, Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research, 25:1, 48-61.

-Rafnsdóttir, GL & Júlíusdóttir, Ó. (2018). “Reproducing gender roles through virtual work: The case of senior management” in International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics. 14(1).

-Axelsdóttir, L. & Halrynjo, S. (forthcoming) „Gender Balance in Executive Management: Top-Managers Understanding of Barriers and Solutions from the Demand-Supply Perspective” in Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society.

- Júlíusdóttir, Ó. Rafnsdóttir, GL and Einarsdóttir, Þ. "Gender disparity in business leadership: A case study from Iceland a country in the gender equality forefront". In 2^nd review for the journal Gender and Management.

- Júlíusdóttir Ó. and Rafnsdóttir GL. Public policies aiming for gender equality in relation to leadership positions in Iceland. In progress for the journal Social Politics. Will be submitted soon

- Júlíusdóttir Ó, Axelsdóttir L and Einarsdóttir Þ (in progress) Networking and Recruitment in Senior Management in Iceland: A Homosocial (re)production

–Einarsdóttir, Þ., Rafnsdóttir, GL., Axelsdóttir, L., and Teigen, M: “The Corporate Quota Turn and Gender Differences Among Nordic Board Member” (in preparation)

 - Rafnsdóttir GL. Einarsdóttir Þ., Valdimarsdóttir M. Structural disadvantage or Less Driven Women? Manager's Views on Gender Disparities and Gender Quotas in Leadership Positions. In progress for the journal Gender and Politics

-Rafnsdóttir G.L., Axelsdóttir L., Diðriksdóttir S. and Einarsdóttir Th. (2015). Women and men as business leaders in Iceland. Akureyri, Jafnréttisstofa. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2829.9368

-Diðriksdóttir, S., Einarsdóttir Þ. & Rafnsdóttir, GL: “Lýðræðisrök og arðsemisrök til kynjakvóta í stjórnum fyrirtækja á Íslandi”. In progress and will be submittet to Tímarit um viðskipti og efnahagsmál in April 2018.

 -Sigurvinsdóttir, LR., Rafnsdóttir GL og Einarsdóttir Þ: Viðhorf til kynjakvóta. Eigindleg og megindleg rannsókn. To be sumbittet to Íslenska þjóðfélagið. In progress.

Other publications; spin-off project.

- Magnús Þór Torfason, Þorgerður Einarsdóttir, Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir og Margrét Sigrún Sigurðardóttir (2017) „Elítur á Íslandi – einsleitni og innbyrðis tengsl” í Stjórnmál og stjórnsýsla, árg. 13, nr. 1.

-Einarsdóttir, M. and Rafnsdóttir, GL (2016) ¡Es tan persistente!: evolución de la brecha salarial de género y la brecha de cuidados en Islandia, in Díaz, Capitolina and Simó-Noguera, Carles X. (coords.) Brecha salarial y brecha de cuidados. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch, p. 229-250.

Reports
-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, Þorgerður Einarsdóttir, Laufey Axelsdóttir & Sunna Diðriksdóttir: „Women and Men as Business Leaders in Iceland“. In cooperation with the Center for Gender Equality, funded by the EU: PROGRESS programme 2007-2013. Also in Icelandic: „Konur og karlar í forystu atvinnulífsins.

Open access: All the articles are sent to journals with open access, the MA and BA thesises are open in Skemma.is and the reports (both in English and Icelandic) are at UoI webpage http://www.mark.hi.is/skyrslur and also at the Center for Gender Equality homepage http://www.jafnretti.is/D10/_Files/HI-LOKASKYRSLA.pdf

2014
Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Gender quotas on boards of corporations – causes and consequences”. Gender, Work and Organisations. Keele University UK. 24-26 June. 2014

Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir „Kynjakvótar í stjórnum fyrirtækja. Auka þeir fjölbreytni og faglegheit?“. Málþingið: Fjölbreytt og fagleg forysta Tækifæri og áskoranir. Hótel KEA Akureyri 11. apríl 2014

2015
-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Kynjakvótar í stjórnum fyrirtækja. Samstarfsverkefni KPMG og Háskóla Íslands”. Soroptimistaklúbbur Reykjavíkur og Seltjarnarness, held at KPMG Iceland.

 -Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Kynjakvótar í stjórnum fyrirtækja” lecture at an education meeting at Félag verkfræðinga, April 14 2015. 

Ráðstefna um íslenska þjóðfélagið. Ísafjörður, April 18 – 19, 2015

-Þorgerður Einarsdóttir og Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Hver eru þau – hvert ætla þau? Um völd og lýðræði í 250 stærstu fyrirtækjunum á Íslandi.”

 -Sunna Diðriksdóttir: „„Ef það er ekki business þá vil ég ekki heyra það“ Viðhorf æðstu stjórnenda og stjórnarmanna til laga um kynjakvóta í stjórnum fyrirtækja“.-Laufey Axelsdóttir: “Kvenleg gildi og arðsemi fyrirtækja”

 -Ólöf Júlíusdóttir: “Stjórnendur alltaf á vaktinni – tækni, tími og rými”

-Laufey Axelsdóttir “Kvenleg gildi og arðsemi fyrirtækja”.

-Þorgerður Einarsdóttir: „Leading men and women in economic life in Iceland.“ The international conference „Gender Diversity on company boards and in leadership positions“ held by Center of Gender Equality in cooperation with the Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Nasdaq Iceland (Kauphöllin), University of Iceland and Reykjavík University, Reykjavík, May 29, 2015. http://www.fjolbreyttforysta.is/?p=407.

-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Gender quotas and the glass ceiling. A case study among the business executives in Iceland. Glasstaket: Metaforen og mekanismene.” Trondheim 15-16 June 2015.

Workshop in the project Power and democracy, June 18, 2016 (vol.hi.is)

-Laufey Axelsdóttir and Þorgerður Einarsdóttir: „The Glass Cliff: Gender Quotas in Times of Crisis”

 -Sunna Diðriksdóttir: „Ef það er ekki business þá vil ég ekki heyra það“

 -Ólöf Júlíusdóttir and Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir:”Exaggerating gender roles through virtual work”

-Þorgerður Einarsdóttir “Gender relations in post-crisis Iceland”, the conference on “100 ára kosningaréttur kvenna á Íslandi. Alþjóðleg ráðstefna“, October 22-23, 2015. 

-Þorgerður Einarsdóttir og Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir Hvers kyns elíta? Hvað einkennir forystufólk í íslensku atvinnulífi? Þjóðarspegill, ráðstefna í félagsvísindum. Háskóli Íslands 30. október 2015

-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Stjórnendur: Samspil fjölskyldu og atvinnulífs” Með storminn í fangið: málþing um stöðu menntaðra kvenna. Fagfélög menntaðra kvenna. Orkuhúsið, 29 October 2015.

 -Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Niðurstöður nýjustu rannsókna varðandi hlutfall kvenna í stjórnunarstöðum/stjórnum og samspil fjölskyldu og atvinnulífs”. Morgunverðarfundur: Íslandsbanki og Spírurnar, félag kvenstjórnenda í Íslandsbanka. Íslandsbanki Kirkjusandi.

2016
-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir: “Work Life Balance and ICT. The case of management”.  Vinterseminariet, Quality Hotel Havefjell Lillehammer 22. Januari 2016

 -Ómar Jóhannsson: ”Fjölbreytt forysta? Netverksgreining á framkvæmdastjórnum 250 stærstu fyrirtækja á Íslandi“. Fyrsta ráðstefna Félags stjórnmálafræðinga. Háskóla Íslands. 16. júní 2016

-Þorgerður Einarsdóttir og Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir. „Þetta er ekkert jafnréttiskjaftæði – bara pjúra bisness“  Um vald og lýðræði í 250 stærstu fyrirtækjunum á Íslandi. Dokkan. Háskóli Íslands, 12. maí 2016.

2017
Þjóðarspegill, ráðstefna í félagsvísindum. Háskóli Íslands nóvember 2017
-Laufey Axelsdóttir og Sigtona Halrynjo: “Konur og karlar í framkvæmdastjórnum fyrirtækja á Íslandi og í Noregi”

-Ólöf Júlíusdóttir, Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir & Þorgerður Einarsdóttir: “Konur og karlar í stjórnendastöðum á Íslandi: Menning fyrirtækja og valdatengsl einstaklinga”

 -Þorgerður Einarsdóttir, Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, Magnús Þór Torfason & Margrét Sigrún Sigurðardóttir: “Konur og karlar í stjórnendastöðum á Íslandi: Búsetumynstur karla og kvenna í stjórnendastöðum”.

-Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir "Women on Executive Boards & as CEOs: What do The Trends Indicate". Women Economic Forum University of Iceland. 20 October 2017. 

Heiti verkefnis: Kynjajafnrétti við stjórn atvinnulífsins: stefna, þróun og áhrif / 

Gender Equality and the Economy: Policies, Trends and Impact
Verkefnisstjórar: Þorgerður Einarsdóttir, Guðbjörg Linda Rafnsdóttir, Háskóla Íslands
Tegund styrks: Verkefnisstyrkur
Styrktímabil: 2014-2016
Fjárhæð styrks: 28,501 millj. kr. alls
Tilvísunarnúmer Rannís:  141630