Abstract
The corporate board gender diversity agenda and that of corporate social responsibility are increasingly entwined, whether through the lens of board gender diversity as a corporate social responsibility, or how a gender diverse board shapes the firm’s CSR engagement. In this chapter we present an abridged history of board gender diversity research and contextualise this research in relation to leaders’ approaches within the field of CSR. We discuss the normative view of corporate board gender diversity, how social movements have informed the debate, the impact women board directors have on firms’ CSR practices, priorities, and performance, and how the broader equality, diversity and inclusion agenda is pushing the field and the debate forward. We then highlight three challenges that leaders may face when trying to diversify their boards without fully understanding some of the issues. To conclude, a case study based on key findings from our work illustrates the successful approaches a number of board Chairs took to diversify their boards.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Handbook on Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility |
Editors | Michel Magnan, Giovanna Michelon |
Place of Publication | Cheltenham, U. K. |
Publisher | Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd |
Chapter | 16 |
Pages | 204-216 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781802208764 |
Publication status | Published - 23 Jan 2024 |