WHY NOT CORPORATE GENDER QUOTAS IN SWEDEN?

Abstract

Sweden has for a long time been in the forefront internationally when it comes to equal representation of women and men in politics. In the economic sphere, however, male dominance persists. Even though Swedish governments have for more than 12 years argued for increased representation of women on company boards to address unequal representation, corporate gender quotas have not been adopted. This article examines the ways in which Swedish governments have perceived the issue of women's under-representation on company boards during the period 2000–12 and analyses the implications these perceptions have had for the solutions governments have presented to increase representation. Using empirical data consisting of government bills, reports and answers by ministers to interpellations, the article demonstrates how the identification and diagnosis of the problem affect which solutions seem rational and legitimate and, in the end, opened up different opportunities for change. The article also shows that the discursive development concerning women's representation in politics has taken a different path than the one on company boards, a path that opened up the possibility for solutions such as quotas and the potential for a faster increase in the representation of women.