New research from the Conference Board of Canada found that just 42% of male senior executives agree that more women are needed in senior-level positions versus 90% of female senior executives.
Interestingly, the percentage of males who believe more women are needed in the senior ranks increases in inverse proportion to the hierarchical level of the males’ roles. The exact opposite was found among women respondents to the study survey.
Specifically, the following data was recorded when study participants were asked to say whether or not they agreed with the statement, “Organizations should try to increase the number of women in their senior ranks”:
- Senior Executive = 42% of men and 90% of women
- Executive = 44% of men and 77% of women
- Middle Manager = 45% of men and 65% of women
- First-level Manager = 53% of men and 64% of women
As the press release from the Conference Board of Canada explains, “Leadership opportunities, motivations and abilities are three factors that are crucial to women’s advancement. In the research, a fourth factor has emerged as even more crucial – attitudes. These attitudes can have a huge influence on the other factors. Eighty-six percent of women believe there is still a glass ceiling. While 68 per cent of women managers think that the organizations are still run by an “old-boys club”, only 43 percent of men agree.”
The video below offers some more insights into the study, and more information can be found here.
