{"id":1024445,"date":"2023-03-08T02:22:12","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T02:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asiapacificreport.nz\/?p=85893"},"modified":"2023-03-08T02:22:12","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T02:22:12","slug":"want-to-support-companies-that-support-women-look-at-your-investments-through-a-gender-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/03\/08\/want-to-support-companies-that-support-women-look-at-your-investments-through-a-gender-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to support companies that support women? Look at your investments through a \u2018gender lens\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
ANALYSIS:<\/strong> By Ayesha Scott<\/a>, Auckland University of Technology<\/a>; Aaron Gilbert<\/a>, Auckland University of Technology<\/a>, and Candice Harris<\/a>, Auckland University of Technology<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Gender equity continues to be a significant problem in business globally. We all know the story: the gender pay gap is a persistent issue and female-dominated industries tend to be lower paid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Female representation in senior leadership and board positions remains low in many countries, particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand. Women comprise only 28.5 percent of director positions<\/a> across all NZX-listed companies and just 23.7 percent at companies outside of the NZX\u2019s top 50.<\/p>\n Change is slow despite the well-established evidence<\/a> showing the merits of improving gender equity for businesses — including better firm performance — and excellent initiatives such as Mind The Gap<\/a>.<\/p>\n But there is a way to support companies that have made the change towards greater gender equity — and encourage others to do the same: we can invest with a \u201cgender lens\u201d.<\/p>\n The aim of investing with a gender lens is not only to make a financial return but also to improve the lives of women by providing capital to those companies doing well on gender issues.<\/p>\n Gender lens investing goes beyond counting female representation at board level. It encompasses the number of female managers, leaders and employees as well as the existence of policies or products provided by a company to address the gender pay gap and other inequities faced by their female employees.<\/p>\n It also encourages investing in women-owned enterprises.<\/p>\n In essence, investing with a gender lens means identifying and investing in those companies that are empowering their female employees and embracing diversity.<\/p>\n This might seem simple. But there are no investment portfolios or funds investing in companies that do right by women.<\/p>\n One explanation for this gap is that identifying gender-friendly companies is not easy. And this is where rating agencies have a role to play.<\/p>\n U.N. Chief Says World Is ‘300 Years Away’ From Gender Equity And Women’s Rights Are ‘Vanishing Before Our Eyes’ https:\/\/t.co\/LggXPPy79k<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Patrick F. Herlihy (@herlihy_f) March 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\n