Women And Leadership Course at GW's GSPM

Welcome to the 2010 Summer semester blog on women in political leadership. Content will include discussion about the books read in class as well as the politics of the day. Blogging is an important skill and vital to engaging more women in politics. This blog is intended as an educational tool to all women and men interested in promoting women in politics.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Will the Dodd-Frank Bill Change the Number of Women in the Boardroom?

While I haven't had a chance to read the full text of the Dodd-Frank Bill which is set to pass in the Senate later on this afternoon -- it sounds like it may contain some interesting and promising elements for the future of women and minorities around the Board room tables in America.

The bill calls for the creation of an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion -- below is the blurb in the House Summary of the Bill:

"NEW OFFICES OF MINORITY AND WOMEN INCLUSION
At federal banking and securities regulatory agencies, the bill establishes an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion that will, among other things, address employment and contracting diversity matters. The offices will coordinate technical assistance to minority-owned and women-owned businesses and seek diversity in the workforce of the regulators."

You can read more of the summary: http://financialservices.house.gov/Key_Issues/Financial_Regulatory_Reform/comprehensive_summary.pdf

While I don't see anything that specifically indicates that quotas will be implemented -- a few different news sources are saying that is the direction the bill is going in.
For example, the BBC posted an article about Women in the Board Room in the UK and a new report released about new statistics and it mentions that quotas are in the works here. You can read that article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10648355

I have to say, I was pretty skeptical that quotas would ever gain traction at any level of politics, governance or leadership in the U.S. when this class started -- but it seems as though it really may be happening.

What do you all think of this? Anyone heard any thing else about it?

No comments: