A retrospective analysis of Australian women's representation in management in large and small banks

Abstract

This study analyses affirmative action data to assess whether progress has been made in women's representation in management in Australian banks since the passing of the Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act (AA/EO) in 1986. The findings show that, since 1988/9, women have continuously increased, albeit weakly, their representation at supervisory, middle-management and senior-management levels in large banks. However, women are still concentrated at supervisory level and constitute less than 6 per cent of senior management. In the small banks, women's representation in management, which at 36.20 per cent in 1995/6 is still more than twice that in the large banks, has continuou..