Women on corporate boards of public listed companies - a UK and EU gender diversity conundrum

This chapter analyses the current state of affairs in relation to gender diversity on the boards of public listed companies in the UK and the EU. The chapter analyses the proposed European Union (EU) Directive on Women on Company Boards and related matters, the current stage of the proposed Directive and why it has not been adopted for over 7 years. The chapter analyses key conceptual underpinnings that may have contributed to the procedural paralysis in the adoption of the Directive. The position and current state of affairs on women on corporate boards of FTSE listed companies in the UK is examined, as well as initiatives taken by the UK government and institutional players to address this concern. Finally, the chapter analyses why the UK government’s recommendation for FTSE listed companies to achieve a 40 percent representation of women on FTSE boards by 2020 has not been achieved and offers a suggestive solution.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in "Affirmative Action and the Law: Efficacy of National and International Approaches" on 25/09/2020, available online: http://www.routledge.com/9780367219536