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The Glass Pyramid: Informal Gender Status Hierarchy on Boards

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Listed:
  • Lívia Markóczy

    (University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Sunny Li Sun

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • Jigao Zhu

    (University of International Business and Economics)

Abstract

Drawing on the status characteristic theory, we investigate the effect of gender on board directors’ status ranking and find that all else being equal, female directors’ status ranking is 81.48% of one position lower than that of male directors, a discrepancy that is attributable to gender. We theorize on the mechanism that determines the ways in which the status value of gender on a board affects board interactions, and we predict how this mechanism influences firm outcomes, including excessive managerial spending, social responsibility performance, and firm risk. We test our hypotheses in Chinese firms using an unbalanced panel that includes 5396 firm-year observations (86,019 director-year observations) for a period of 6 years and find them supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Lívia Markóczy & Sunny Li Sun & Jigao Zhu, 2021. "The Glass Pyramid: Informal Gender Status Hierarchy on Boards," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 827-845, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:168:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04247-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04247-z
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wang, Joyce C. & Zhao, Yiyi & Sun, Sunny L. & Zhu, Jigao, 2023. "Female-friendly boards in family firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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