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 continuously decreased since 1992/3. It was also found that restructuring and downsizing did not reduce the number of traditional layers of management in large banks. Consequently, the study of women's representation in management is still relevant. Downsizing in Australia, however, is expected to continue and de-layering of management levels in banking may eventually occur. As a result, when the trends in women's representation in management are considered within the context of the Australian banking industry, it is concluded that women's managerial representation is unlikely to reach 50 per cent. Implications for organizations and for aspiring women managers are discussed.