Proponents of mandatory quotas

Proponents of diversity quotas affirm that equal opportunities are unattainable without enforcement of quota legislation to ensure equality through the principle of proportional representation. It is believed that mandatory quotas will alter business practices that exclude women from leadership roles.

This will result in limiting the effects of bias on hiring, promotion and the distribution of rewards in the workplace and society as a whole. In a voluntary system, increases in board gender diversity have occurred belatedly, recently and from a low base. Quotas have thus been proven to address gender inequality on boards quickly, with Norway as one of the countries providing evidence.

Research evidence indicates that markets with mandatory quotas have generally higher female board representation than those without. Proponents argue that mandatory quotas are the only proven method of advancing women into boardrooms in large numbers. They believe that there is systematic discrimination against women due to differential power and opportunity structures between men and women hence the need for mandatory quotas. They attack cultural bias in favour of social practices which they believe were created by and for men.