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Female board directors' resilience against gender discrimination

Author

Listed:
  • Rita Goyal
  • Nada Kakabadse
  • Andrew Kakabadse
  • Danielle Talbot

Abstract

Despite regulatory efforts to promote gender diversity on boards, women are still severely underrepresented in board leadership in the UK, beyond FTSE 100 companies. Evidence suggests that women, when poorly represented in the workplace, are more likely to suffer discrimination. In this study, we report the first‐hand experiences of gender discrimination suffered by female directors and present the process of how they build resilience through developing coping strategies. Such resilience‐building processes seem to vary with the length of board experience of female directors. At the outset of their board journey, they adopt avoidant coping strategies of denial and disengagement. However, with experience in boards, they gain the confidence to pursue the active coping strategy of seeking and extending support. This qualitative study is based on 42 elite interviews of board directors and is guided by the resilience theory, in the context of top FTSE boards. The article also discusses the contribution of the study to theory, praxis, and policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Rita Goyal & Nada Kakabadse & Andrew Kakabadse & Danielle Talbot, 2023. "Female board directors' resilience against gender discrimination," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 197-222, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:30:y:2023:i:1:p:197-222
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12669
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Heilman, Madeline E. & Eagly, Alice H., 2008. "Gender Stereotypes Are Alive, Well, and Busy Producing Workplace Discrimination," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(4), pages 393-398, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Afsaneh Bagheri & Golshan Javadian & Pardis Zakeri & Zahra Arasti, 2024. "Bearing the Unbearable: Exploring Women Entrepreneurs Resilience Building in Times of Crises," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 193(3), pages 715-738, September.
    2. Javier Esteban Curiel & Arta Antonovica & Beatriz Rodríguez Herráez, 2024. "Longitudinal analysis of gender differences regarding entrepreneurial resilience," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 2811-2838, December.

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