Barbies on Board: Grievances and Contributions in Unequal Gender Competition at Listed Companies – Evidence From China (78546)
Session Chair: Mario Liong
Sunday, 26 May 2024 13:45
Session: Session 3
Room: Room 603
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
This study investigates the experiences of female directors behind the corporate curtain, inspired by thought-provoking scenes of the boardroom in Barbie’s latest film. Utilizing a socialist feminist lens, we leverage panel data spanning 2008-2018 to quantitatively assess whether reality reflects the cinematic portrayal of imbalanced board diversity. Sophisticated analyses examine if greater gender diversity on boards (“More Barbies on Board”) positively influences financial performance, while probing for subtle systemic biases against women leaders. The results reveal that the presence of female directors significantly enhances profitability and firm valuation, spotlighting women’s unrecognized potential. However, women face disproportionately high education requirements despite qualifications showing no meaningful impact on outcomes. This imbalance signals lingering gender bias, even as female directors demonstrate productive contributions. By rigorously debunking assumptions and revealing obstacles, this study aims to reshape outdated perceptions of women’s capabilities on and off screen.
Authors:
Anning Zhang, University of Macau, Macau
Jiwei Wu, University of Macau, Macau
Yuanyuan Zhang, University of Macau, Macau
About the Presenter(s)
Mr Anning Zhang is a University Doctoral Student at University of Macau in Macau
See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress