Reviving gender equilibrium on corporate boards' composition: from bedrooms to boardrooms.

Odusanya, Temitope Omotola

Abstract

This study evaluated the sensitization of gender balance in the boardroom composition with the allusion from ‘bedrooms to boardrooms’. The notion of bedroom in this context signals the family group, which is the earliest or foundational class that everyone, both male and female, is born firstly into and acquainted with. It is this group that primarily shapes the beginning level, which whether good or bad, delineates the understanding of life from infancy. The ‘bedroom’ invariably encompasses the home, family, children, environment, and domestic settings as it is beyond the literal couples’ bedrooms. It does not include flirting in the bedroom. The deficiency of gender parity in boardroom composition has kindled an intense, controversial global debate. In spite of gender disparities recognized globally and efforts to remedying it, there remains a huge lacuna in attaining gender equilibrium on the Nigerian corporate boards. Accordingly, this research was anchored on three theoretical frameworks of stakeholders’ liberal feminist and social role theories, which investigated why these corporate boards are yet to achieve gender equality and how gender parity may be achieved. It further adopted the qualitative, descriptive research design with the aid of robust focused group discussions for the exploration and in-depth evaluation of the study. Sources were majorly gathered from pertinent textbooks, statistical reports, journal articles, and e-resources from the internet. Data were content analyzed. Studies revealed that although women are equals, cultural and patriarchal norms passed down across generations continue to daze them with limitations, exclusions, and stereotypes in ascending into boardroom positions. This study tendered potential solutions, concluded that gender equilibrium has numerous benefits, and recommended flexible policies in conjunction with more awareness in addressing this fundamental issue.

Citation

ODUSANYA, T.O. 2022. Reviving gender equilibrium on corporate boards' composition: from bedrooms to boardrooms. In Jayachitra, J., Seenivasan, M. and Firat, T. (eds.) Proceedings of the 4th International congress on life, social and health sciences in a changing world, 12-13 February 2022, [virtual event]. Istanbul: BZT Academy [online], pages 572-588. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/yck5e474

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 4th International congress on life, social and health sciences in a changing world
• Start Date: Feb 12, 2022
• End Date: Feb 13, 2022
• Acceptance Date: Dec 12, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 22, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 22, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Publisher: BZT Academy
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 572-588
• ISBN: 9786057116758
• Keywords: Gender equality; Women executives; Nigeria
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1987399
• Publisher URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qpCDSRiFTArhg0yjF281z5Ckvep84Piy/view