More women study than men, they complete their studies earlier and yet only 10 percent of professors in the Netherlands are women. In the business world, too, the share of women at the top is much smaller than the target of 30 percent. Figures range from 10 to 20 percent. Minister Jet Bussemaker has given the business community until 2020 to meet the target. There is already a database of female candidates for top positions. A site was also launched in 2016 that lists positions that become available on the boards of large Dutch companies. Good study results for women do not lead to a position at the top of science. On the contrary: The higher the scientific or administrative position, the fewer women. In the Netherlands, only 10 percent of all professors are women.
In 2007, female scientists drew up 95 statements about the advancement of women to top university positions. In doing so, they call for structural measures. According to the women, it is more about a perfunctory pursuit of a larger number of women. It’s about utilizing talent and a return on investment of money, time and energy.
Differences
Research into brains and cognitive functions shows no biological differences between men and women. But studies show that almost everyone has biases in men and women, which play an important role in evaluating their performance. This leads to a different appreciation of what men do and what women do, even though they are exactly the same.
A university staff consisting predominantly of middle-aged white men leads to a monoculture. People prefer to choose someone who looks like them. Most appointment committees consist of a large majority of men, making it more likely that the position will go to a man. While more diversity at the top is better for the future of science and for companies.
Business
The number of women in top positions in the business community is also lagging behind. The share of women at the top of Dutch companies increased to 20.9 percent in 2014. In 2010 the percentage was still 17.8 percent. (figures from Charter Talent research)
The figures shared by Minister Jet Bussemaker in February 2016 are even worse. The percentage of women at the top of the business community remains at around 10 percent, while the aim is for boards of directors and supervisory directors to consist of at least 30 percent women.
Legal minimum
In a number of Scandinavian countries, it is legally stipulated that committees, boards and advisory bodies must consist of at least 40 percent women. There is no legal quota yet in the Netherlands, but one is coming. Minister Jet Bussemaker warned in 2016 that if the number of women in the business community does not increase, a legal minimum will be introduced in 2020.
The database topvrouwen.nl has been created for companies that are looking for a woman for a top position . Women can use the website navigeernaardetop.nl to find positions that become available on the boards of the two hundred largest companies in the Netherlands. According to the minister, there is still too often an old boys’ network that divides the jobs.
Approximately 156 board positions will become available in 2016. 129 of these positions are now held by men.