California is making historical progress for gender equality in the workplace. On Sept. 30, 2018 Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill mandating female presence on executive boards into law.
On Aug. 26, 2018, California legislature passed a bill which enforces gender quotas on public companies’ boards, the most senior group of people in a company who oversee and strategize activities for a either a for-profit business.
The bill states that before the end of 2019, companies’ executive offices in California must have at least one female director on its board.
Since its passage, there has been on ongoing debate amongst public companies and the government.
While supporters of the bill believe it is a crucial step for women’s’ equality in the business world, several businessmen see this bill as potentially discriminating men. Additionally, Betsy Atkins, a female business executive and entrepreneur who believes that the “marketplace is already working” and finds the bill unnecessary. Nevertheless, as of now, the bill is in the hands of California Governor Jerry Brown.
“Setting quotas for representation can be a slippery slope,” said senior Kennedy Mallard. Mallard, president of the Fems4Dems club, stated that although the female representation in higher positions is highly lacking, to her this does not make the bill just.
According to the Russell 500 index, only 1 out of 6 board members are women, and over a quarter of companies in California do not have females on their boards at all. Mallard explained why she thinks this bill won’t help these numbers in a constructive way.
“Women should hold their deserving positions based on merit, not based on gender … In all circumstances, we need qualified women to be recognized and later promoted for their hard work not for their womanhood,” Mallard said.
Jen McClure, the Chairwoman of Stanford Women on Boards, acknowledged Mallard’s reasoning.
“Most women did not initially want legislation like this. We felt like we did not need it and that women should get into public boards based on their merit. It would be harder for us if we were there because of the mandate; because when we are in the boardroom because of a mandate companies would not take us seriously,” McClure said.
However, McClure notes that this perspective has changed recently.
“A few years ago this idea of quotas came about and we said no, but now I think there’s been a shift. Because over the last several years we have not seen the number of change for the number of women on boards, 80 percent [are] still filled by men. The way that board seats criteria are filled don’t allow much opportunity,” she said.
Senior Alison Li thinks that this law may be crossing the line from women’s equality to being harmful.
“I think that the law is right in its intent, but this is not the right way to go about gaining equality,” she said. “While I do believe that women need more representation in leadership positions, I think that forcing it is not the way to go.”
On the contrary, sophomore Mithra Venkatesh, member of Women of the World Club, believes that this bill may be just the step women need.
“It’s time to see more women in higher up jobs,” Venkatesh said. “This will be effective as it forces people to be more aware about the genders of who they are picking and to make sure that is equal.”
