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Gender Equality and UN Sustainable Development Goals: Priorities and Correlations in the Top Business Schools’ Communication and Legitimation Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgia Miotto

    (Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Plaça Joan Coromines, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Marc Polo López

    (Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Plaça Joan Coromines, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Josep Rom Rodríguez

    (Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Plaça Joan Coromines, 08001 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Gender equality is still an issue in business schools, since women in MBAs classrooms, in faculty and in management teams have low representation. Challenges caused by lack of financial aids, salaries gap and a very masculine model avoid a better gender balance in the business graduate schools, which, globally, should lead women personal and professional development. The main objective of this research is to analyse business schools communication priorities related to gender equality projects and policies in their sustainability reports, considering these as a fundamental tool for corporate legitimacy. Through a content analysis of the sustainable reports of the top 50 business schools of the world, we elaborate a “Codes Frequency Report” focusing on “Goal 4: quality of education” (in relation with scholarships and grants allocation) and “Goal 5: gender equality” and we explore the correlations with the schools’ ranking positions, the price of the MBA programmes, the percentage of female MBA students, of female faculty members and women in board of directors in the different geographical areas as Europe, US and Asia. Results show that gender equality related topics are a source of positive impact and legitimacy for top business schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgia Miotto & Marc Polo López & Josep Rom Rodríguez, 2019. "Gender Equality and UN Sustainable Development Goals: Priorities and Correlations in the Top Business Schools’ Communication and Legitimation Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:302-:d:196115
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    3. Francisco Díez-Martín & Giorgia Miotto & Cristina Del-Castillo-Feito, 2024. "The intellectual structure of gender equality research in the business economics literature," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 1649-1680, June.
    4. Bettina Lynda Bastian & Beverly Dawn Metcalfe & Mohammad Reza Zali, 2019. "Gender Inequality: Entrepreneurship Development in the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-26, November.
    5. Cristina Boţa‐Avram & Adriana Tiron‐Tudor, 2025. "Women on Corporate Boards and Sustainability Reporting: A Proposed Integrated Framework of Determinants and Impacts," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(5), pages 7180-7212, September.
    6. Xia Ling, 2023. "The Coordination of Environmental Protection and Female Discrimination Based on the Concept of Affirmative Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-10, February.
    7. Edith Medina-Hernández & María José Fernández-Gómez & Inmaculada Barrera-Mellado, 2021. "Gender Inequality in Latin America: A Multidimensional Analysis Based on ECLAC Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    8. Areum Jo & Sang-Kyeong Lee & Jaecheol Kim, 2020. "Gender Gaps in the Use of Urban Space in Seoul: Analyzing Spatial Patterns of Temporary Populations Using Mobile Phone Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Mónica Segovia-Pérez & Pilar Laguna-Sánchez & Concepción de la Fuente-Cabrero, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Leadership: Fostering Women’s Empowerment at the University Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Dolores Gallardo-Vázquez & Flavio Hourneaux Junior & Marcelo Luiz Dias da Silva Gabriel & Luis Enrique Valdez-Juárez, 2021. "On Earth as It Is in Heaven: Proxy Measurements to Assess Sustainable Development Goals at the Company Level through CSR Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
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    12. Erica L. Gallindo & Hobson A. Cruz & Mário W. L. Moreira, 2021. "Critical Examination Using Business Intelligence on the Gender Gap in Information Technology in Brazil," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(15), pages 1-9, August.

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