Women Struggle to Make It as Leaders, Says the White House Project
In the work force, women still lag far behind men.
Nov. 13, 2009— -- In terms of sheer numbers, women now surpass men in the work force, but they're still lagging far behind their male peers when it comes to cracking those glass ceilings.
Women account for just 18 percent of top leadership roles in 10 sectors, including business, nonprofit groups, law and religion, according to the new report, "Benchmarking Women's Leadership."
"Women's leadership is stuck in every sector of American society at a time when we need their innovation ... when we need their talent, and the research tells us [to] bring in the women if you want to change things," said Marie Wilson, president of The White House Project, the nonprofit organization in New York that produced the report.
As many as 90 percent of women and men report being ready to see women in charge. At the same time, people also believe that both sexes are "already leading equally," which is a misconception, according to the report.
It takes 33 percent of women in top positions for change to occur in the workplace, Wilson said.
"A third women makes it [seem] normal for women to be there," Wilson said in an interview with ABC News' Bianna Golodryga. "A third women makes sure that you focus on the agenda and not gender. A third women actually allows women to be themselves and men to be themselves. And what we are looking for is enough women leading alongside men so that both of us can contribute equally.
"I'd really like 50 percent," Wilson added. "But 33 [percent] really gives us the edge."
In pockets of corporate America, it's far below that number. Among the Fortune 500 companies, only 66 have females on their boards, according to the report. In the corporate ranks, women are known for promoting greater transparency and for being more averse to risk. The bottom line, too, gets a boost when women are at the top. For instance, there's a 34 percent greater return on equity and shareholders' investment, according to the report.
This has prompted some firms to consider putting more money in the hands of women.
"You are now having a fund started to invest in companies that have more women on their boards because that is the way to actually be more successful -- innovation and as well as money," Wilson said.
