Women's Biz Magazine
The Gains and Strains
Gender Equality in Leadership Positions By Annie Gibbins
O
ver the years, women have made significant strides in breaking down gender barriers and achieving greater representation in various industries. However, despite this progress, there are still areas where women are underrepresented or face significant obstacles to advancement. In this article, we will explore the industries where women are making the greatest gains and where the biggest areas of need are, backed up with relevant statistics.
Industries where women are making the greatest gains: 1. Health: The healthcare industry has traditionally been female dominated, with women making up the majority of healthcare workers. However, women are increasingly occupying leadership positions in healthcare organizations, with more women becoming hospital CEOs and chief medical officers. According to a report by Oliver Wyman, women hold 30% of CEO positions 34 | WOMENSBIZGLOBAL.COM
in healthcare organizations, compared to 24% in the overall economy. 2. Technology: While women remain underrepresented in the tech industry, there has been a significant increase in women pursuing careers in tech in recent years. According to a report by Girls Who Code, the percentage of women majoring in computer science has more than doubled since 2010, from 12% to 27%. There has also been a rise in the number of women holding leadership positions in tech companies, with companies such as IBM and Microsoft being led by female CEOs. 3. Law: The legal profession has traditionally been maledominated, but women are making significant strides in the industry. According to the American Bar Association, women make up almost 38% of all lawyers, and almost 50% of all law school graduates. Additionally, more women are becoming partners in law firms, with the percentage of female partners increasing from 19% in 2007 to 23% in 2019.
4. Politics: Women have been historically underrepresented in politics, but this trend is gradually changing. According to the Center for American Women and Politics, women currently hold 27.4% of state legislature seats and 24.5% of seats in Congress. While these numbers may seem low, they represent a significant increase from just a few decades ago. For example, in 1992, women held only 9.4% of state legislature seats
Areas where the biggest needs for progress are: 1. Finance: The finance industry has long been dominated by men, particularly in leadership positions. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, women make up only 20% of executive teams in financial services companies. Additionally, women in finance face significant pay gaps, with female financial analysts earning only 80 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.
