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Gender Quota in European Companies

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Gender Quota in European Companies
Can Guneyli ES4-3D 10020470
Drs. M.J. Kooper-Huigen
Advanced Writing Skills in English Part 2
Words: 1132June 4, 2013
Gender Quota in European Companies
Women are having a hard time reaching top positions in companies. The European Union recognizes this problem and decided to implement new laws that require quotas for women in businesses. According to the European Commission, women need to work an extra of 59 days to match the salary earned by men, which makes an average gender pay gap of 16.2% across the European Union in 2010. ("Equal pay day:," 2013). The reason why the quota system in Europe is not working is, because it has the status of a directive.
Equality is one of five values on which the Union is founded. The Union is bound to strive for equality between women and men in all its activities. (3 Articles 2 and 3 TEU, Article 8 TFEU). Therefore, the EU has laws that forbid discrimination based on sex. Article two of the Maastricht Treaty (TEU) clearly states men and women are equal. (Van Ooik, & Vandamme, 2010, p. 5). In addition, article 121 of the TFEU states that men and women have the right for equal pay. Finally, article 21 of the Lisbon Treaty specifically prohibits discrimination based on sex (Van Ooik, & Vandamme, 2010, p. 161). This means that women in the EU are protected by law against discrimination based on their gender.
However, in practice gender inequality still exists in European businesses. The European Union and its fight for gender equality has been a long battle. Despite EU law and directives the European Union has not been able to solve the problem. The main issue the EU is facing is that there are only a few women in top-positions in government institutions and private companies in Europe, and that the statistics have slightly improved in ten years. At this point, only 1 in 7 (13,7%) board members at Europe’s top companies is a woman. Which is a slight improvement from 11.8% in 2010 ("Women on boards:," 2012).
It is


References: Allen, K. (2010, August 19). Equal pay for women not likely till 2067, says research. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/19/equal-pay-women-2057 Coppola, F. (2013, May 13). Are gender quotas good or bad?. Retrieved from http://www.europeanpublicaffairs.eu/are-gender-quotas-good-or-bad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-gender-quotas-good-or-bad Ep calls on croatia to respect 40% women 's quota on election lists. (2013, May 20). Retrieved from http://dalje.com/en-croatia/ep-calls-on-croatia-to-respect-40-womens-quota-on-election-lists/468795 Equal pay day: Women in europe work 59 days ‘for free’. (2013, February 27). Retrieved from http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-165_en.htm Groves, J. (2012, November 14). European plans for boardroom quotas for women ‘are patronising and wrong’ read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2232620/european-plans-boardroom-quotas-women-patronising-wrong.html Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015. (2010, September 21). Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2010:0491:FIN:EN:PDF Van Ooik, R., & Vandamme, T. (2010). European basic treaties. (pp.7-165). Deventer: Kluwer. Women on boards: Commission proposes 40% objective. (2012, November 14). Retrieved from http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-12-1205_en.htm?locale=en
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