European Regulatory approaches to increase women in Upper Echelon: A retrospective

This chapter analyzes the impact of cultures on gender equality propensity and the measures adopted to enhance women’s access to top echelon positions. Utilizing the cultural framework first introduced by Hofstede’s dimensions (1984) and later by the GLOBE research on cultural clusters, the chapter highlights the unequivocal role of cultures in the process of achieving gender parity. The chapter demonstrates how gender-equal countries and cultural clusters tend to introduce stringent legal measures (e.g., quota laws) to break the glass ceiling. A new approach is proposed to understand the inner mechanisms behind combating gender disparity, offering a comprehensive framework for future gender studies.