Gender Diversity on Corporate Boards: How Racial Politics Impedes Progress in the United States

Authors

Cheryl L. Wade, St. John's University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Pace International Law Review

Publication Date

Spring 2014

Volume

26

First Page

23

Abstract

The excellent conference organized by Darren Rosenblum comparing global approaches to board diversity inspired me to think about how progress in this context has unfolded in the United States. Even though the issue of diversity on corporate boards has become a global issue, few U.S. boards have moved beyond mere tokenism when it comes to female directors. One reason for the lack of diversity among corporate directors is that board selection has been based on membership in a particular network. This essay, however, focuses on the persisting problem of discrimination—a more invidious explanation for the fact that very few corporate boards reflect the gender and racial diversity of their workers, consumers, and the communities in which they do business.

Comments

Also available at https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pilr/vol26/iss1/4.