Gender balance in the governance of social enterprise

Abstract

There are high expectations placed on social enterprises as alternative forms shaping local economies. However, little is known about how they are governed and their accountability to their local communities. The gender balance of their governing boards and representation of women is therefore an important issue. This paper makes a contribution to examining the claims of greater equality proposed by social enterprises. The results draw on an analysis of a survey of 825 social enterprises and show there is a more equal gender balance in social enterprise governance compared to the private sector. The survey also finds that women are still under-represented on boards when considered as a proportion of the population or the proportion of women's employment in social enterprises. There is also considerable sectoral concentration and a smaller proportion of women on boards of larger organisations. Social enterprises have the potential to be alternative spaces to encourage greater representation of women in the governance of local economies, but at present there continues to be an imbalance.

Employees’ Safety from Psychological Violence in Social Enterprises: State Subsidies or Private Initiative?

“…The more so as the social enterprises themselves in the management of their own internal processes face relevant to the society problems, occurring as, for instance, unequal treatment of its members, etc. (in [19]), which is particularly relevant in addressing the issue of integration of socially vulnerable groups of the society into the labour market in the social enterprise. Thus, there is a real danger that the aims of the social enterprise will not be achieved or will be achieved only partially.…”

“…According to the authors, the democratic model common in social enterprises can be subverted by powerful actors who wish to retain their positions regardless of the impact on the organisation. In addition, a significant gender disproportion in the management of such organisations was observed (in reference [19]). …”

Legal structure and outcomes of social enterprise: The case of South Yorkshire, UK

“…Class A legal structures are the most common legal vehicles within the social enterprise sector in the UK (Lyon and Humbert, 2012;Martin and Thompson, 2010). These are Company limited by guarantee (CLG) and Industrial and Provident Society (IPS).…”

“…There is no single preferred legal structure for social enterprises in the UK (DTI, 2002;Manning, 2006). UK Social enterprises take a variety of legal structures including amalgams of different organisational forms to pursue their specific objectives (Lyon and Humbert, 2012;Martin and Thompson, 2010). A legal structure ensures boards of directors/trustees and other individuals associated with the organisation discharge their duties lawfully (SBS, 2005;Osterloh and Frey, 2000).…”

“…Further, a legal structure is important in defining the activities and decision making process of a firm (Ellerman, 1984). Most crucially, for social enterprises, their legal structures determine and influence the types of financial resources they can attract (ACEVO, 2005; Doherty et al, 2009 Class A legal structures are the most common legal vehicles within the social enterprise sector in the UK (Lyon and Humbert, 2012;Martin and Thompson, 2010). These are Company limited by guarantee (CLG) and Industrial and Provident Society (IPS).…”