The past several years the environmental pressure on companies have increased. Both regarding their impact on the external environment, and on the internal environment. The question of gender diversity in the workplace has been a hot topic for decades. Women have historically always been underrepresented in the boardroom, with men traditionally assuming high governing positions. As more women have assumed a place on the board of directors, factors such as the transparency has increased. Raising the question on whether the increased number of women within decision-making position shas something to do with achieving higher ESG scores.  The purpose of the study is to investigate if there is a relationship between the proportion of women on the board of directors and the ESG scores of listed companies in Europe. Moreover, also study whether the critical ratio of three or more women on the board have any significant effect on the score. The companies included in the study has had at least one ESG score between 2018 – 2022. Four research questions lay ground for four hypotheses, each intended to investigate the relationship between ESG and women on the board of directors.  What was found was a highly significant relationship between the % of women on the board of directors and the ESG score. Breaking it down, all three pillars are highly affected by the ratio of women. The most affected, however, is the governance pillar due to the relationship with board diversity, and transparency towards investors and other stakeholders. These results are supported by previous studies studying the same phenomenon. A significant relationship was also found between the % of women and the ESGC score, meaning the ESG score including possible controversies the company is, or has been, involved in. The difference in effect between the effect on ESG- and ESGC score is not significant, however. Meaning there is nothing saying that women have an increased effect on keeping companies out of scandals involving ESG factors. Moreover, the critical ratio theory is supported by this study. With companies with three or more women on their board of directors scoring significantly higher ESG score than those without.  A conclusion of this study is hence that having more women on the board of directors can increase the work towards ESG matters, and thus also the ESG score due to several different reasons. This further supports the inclusion of gender quotas within companies and institutions.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / This research examined whether an improved participation of women in the board of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) firms has any relationship with sustainability disclosure. Accordingly, the objective of this research was to examine the relationship between the number of women on the board and environmental, social and gender-employment disclosure in South African firms. The research applied a purposive sampling design to study the nine best socially responsible investing firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and secondary data were collected from the sustainability reports of the firms. Using a quantitative approach, the panel-data regression analysis was used to analyse the relationship between women on the board of directors, environmental, social and gender employment disclosure. Energy consumption disclosure, social investment and the number of women employment in the firms were the proxy for environmental disclosure, social investment and gender employment disclosures respectively. Findings show a positive relationship between the number of women on the board of directors and firm disclosure on energy consumption, disclosure on women employment and social investment disclosure. However, the number of women employed in the corporate is still very low in comparison with the male counterparts. The research recommends that, given the unique social and environmental sensitivity of women, the corporate should recruit more women onto the boards to enhance accelerated corporate sustainability performance and disclosures. Key words: sustainability disclosure, women in the board, sustainability performance, energy disclosure, sustainable development

Women are often predominated in so-called "women´s jobs" including nursing, teaching and administration while jobs such as manager, board of director and financier are dominated by men. Hence, the corporate board has been male-dominated. However, in recent decades the number of women entering the boardroom has increased. Women are aware of their opportunites in terms of managerial jobs. Nevertheless, Sweden has one of the highest levels of gender equality in the world. Women with business experience and education are steadily moving upp the corporate ladder. The importance of female directors´ contributions on the corporate board has been recognized. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how women contribute on the corporate board in Sweden. The focus of the study lies on the perspectives of female and male directors. The study was conducted with the use of a qualitative method. It provided us with an understanding of the subject based on respondents´ experience. In order tol fulfill the purpose, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with male and female directors on the corporate board in Sweden. The empirical data was analyzed by the process of qualitative data analysis (QDA). We have increased the knowledge of female directors´ contributions on the corporate board in Sweden. Female directors do not posses a profound understanding of female customers. There is a strong link between female representatives and enhanced board communication. Furthermore, there is no relation between female directors and companies´ involvement in charitable activities. There is no difference in the way female and male directors monitor the board.

<p>Women are often predominated in so-called "women´s jobs" including nursing, teaching and administration while jobs such as manager, board of director and financier are dominated by men. Hence, the corporate board has been male-dominated. However, in recent decades the number of women entering the boardroom has increased. Women are aware of their opportunites in terms of managerial jobs. Nevertheless, Sweden has one of the highest levels of gender equality in the world. Women with business experience and education are steadily moving upp the corporate ladder. The importance of female directors´ contributions on the corporate board has been recognized. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how women contribute on the corporate board in Sweden. The focus of the study lies on the perspectives of female and male directors. The study was conducted with the use of a qualitative method. It provided us with an understanding of the subject based on respondents´ experience. In order tol fulfill the purpose, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with male and female directors on the corporate board in Sweden. The empirical data was analyzed by the process of qualitative data analysis (QDA). We have increased the knowledge of female directors´ contributions on the corporate board in Sweden. Female directors do not posses a profound understanding of female customers. There is a strong link between female representatives and enhanced board communication. Furthermore, there is no relation between female directors and companies´ involvement in charitable activities. There is no difference in the way female and male directors monitor the board.</p>

Bakgrund: Hållbarhetsredovisning har blivit ett allt viktigare verktyg för både företag och intressenter, och det har gjorts flera studier avseende faktorer som kan förklara mängden information om hållbarhet som företag redovisar. Den tidigare forskningen har till stor del undersökt faktorer som branschtillhörighet, storlek och lönsamhet, däremot har studier med kvinnlig närvaro i styrelsen som faktor utförts i en mer begränsad omfattning. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att redogöra för hur kvinnlig närvaro i styrelsen, med hänsyn till kontrollvariablerna branschtillhörighet, storlek samt lönsamhet påverkar mängden information om hållbarhet som redovisas i stora svenska företag. Teoretisk referensram: Studien tar sin grund i ett multiteoretisk ramverk som innefattar Upper Echelons theory, Signalteorin, Positiv redovisningsteori samt legitimitetsteorin. Teorierna används för att formulera de hypoteser som ska besvara studiens syfte. Metod: Metoden som använts i studien är en kvantitativ metod där en innehållsanalys av årsredovisningar och hållbarhetsrapporter gjorts. Vidare har datan använts för att utföra två multipla regressionsanalyser för att besvara syftet. Mängd redovisad information om hållbarhet är den beroende variabeln i regressionerna, och den huvudoberoende variabeln är kvinnor i styrelsen, som analyseras tillsammans med kontrollvariablerna branschtillhörighet, storlek och lönsamhet. Slutsats: Studiens slutsats visar att kvinnor i styrelsen är den variabeln som har störst påverkan på mängden information om hållbarhet som företag redovisar. Studien visar även att företagets storlek är en positiv och signifikant variabel. Motsatt till tidigare forskning hittas inget signifikant samband mellan mängden redovisad information om hållbarhet och branschtillhörighet respektive lönsamhet. Denna studie bidrar därav med ny kunskap om att könsfördelning i svenska styrelser är en relevant aspekt att ta hänsyn till vid analyser av hållbarhetsredovisning. / Background: Sustainability reporting has become an increasingly important tool for both companies and stakeholders, and there have been several studies regarding factors that can explain the amount of information about sustainability that companies report. The previous research has largely examined factors such as industry affiliation, size and profitability, however, studies with female presence on the board as a factor has not been studied to the same extent.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report how female presence on the board, taking into account the control variables industry affiliation, size and profitability, affects the amount of information on sustainability that is reported in large Swedish companies.  Theoretical framework: The study is based on a multi-theoretical framework that includes Upper Echelons theory, Signal theory, Positive accounting theory and legitimacy theory. The theories are used to formulate the hypotheses that will answer the purpose of the study.  Method: The method used in the study is a quantitative method where a content analysis of annual reports and sustainability reports was made. Furthermore, the data has been used to perform two multiple regression analyzes to answer the purpose. The amount of reported information on sustainability is the dependent variable in the regressions, and the main independent variable is women on the board, which is analyzed together with the control variables industry affiliation, size and profitability.  Conclusion: The study's conclusion shows that women on the board are the variable that has the greatest impact on the amount of information about sustainability that companies report. The study also shows that company size is a positive and significant variable. Contrary to previous research, no significant relationship is found between the amount of reported information on sustainability and industry affiliation and profitability respectively. This study therefore contributes new knowledge that gender distribution in Swedish boards is a relevant aspect to consider when analyzing sustainability reporting.

Background: Gender equality has during recent years become a widelyresearched topic with mixed results. Recent studies show clear figures thatwomen are underrepresented on board of directors. The varying resultsindicate that it is a complex issue and that more evidence and knowledgemust be added.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze how the proportion ofwomen on company boards for Swedish companies affects the company'sperformance. We also study the critical mass among company boards on theNasdaq Stockholm. Methodology: In our study, we used a quantitative method with a deductiveapproach. We collected data on 216 companies and created our hypothesesfrom mainly upper echelon theory, critical mass theory and tokenism Conclusion: Our study finds that there is no significant effect on firmperformance when accounting for the number of women representatives onthe board of directors. Our results do align with the critical mass theory asfirm performance increases when women represent 30% of the board. Thishowever can not be statistically proven. / Bakgrund: Jämställdhet har under de senaste åren blivit ett mycket forskatämne med blandade resultat. Nyligen genomförda studier visar tydliga siffrorpå att kvinnor är underrepresenterade i styrelsen. De varierande resultatentyder på att det är ett komplext område och att mer bevis och kunskap måstetillföras. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att analysera hur andelen kvinnor ibolagsstyrelser för svenska bolag påverkar bolags prestation. Vi studeraräven den kritiska massan bland bolagsstyrelserna på Nasdaq Stockholm. Metod: I vår studie använder vi en kvantitativ metod med ett deduktivtförhållningssätt. Vi samlade in data på 216 företag och skapade vårahypoteser från främst upper echelon teorin, teorin om kritisk massa ochtokenism. Slutsats: Vår studie finner att det inte finns någon signifikant skillnad påföretagets prestationer när man kollar på antalet kvinnliga representanter istyrelsen. Våra resultat överensstämmer med teorin om kritisk massa dåföretagets prestationer ökar när kvinnor representerar 30 % av styrelsen.Detta kan dock inte statistiskt bevisas.