Leftist Parties Accused of Hypocrisy on Gender Equality
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
An Israeli analysis reveals a significant gender gap in top executive roles at publicly traded companies, with women holding a small percentage of CEO and chairwoman positions. While left-wing parties advocate for gender equality in politics, the private sector shows low female representation, with only 4.8% of CEOs and 6.4% of chairwomen in the TA-125 index. This contrasts with the US S&P 500, which has a higher, though still low, percentage of female CEOs.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Women hold only 4.8% of CEO and 6.4% of chairwoman roles in Israel's TA-125 index companies.
- Left-wing parties are criticized for promoting gender equality in public funds but not the private sector.
- The TA-35 index has two female CEOs and three chairwomen, while TA-90 has four female CEOs and five chairwomen.
- US S&P 500 index has a higher percentage of female CEOs (9.7%) compared to Israel.
- Right-wing parties faced criticism for low female representation on their Knesset candidate lists.
While leftist parties in Israel are criticized for the low number of women in their Knesset lists, a new analysis reveals a significant gender disparity in top executive positions within major publicly traded companies. The study, conducted by C14, examined companies included in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) indices, finding a "nearly negligible" presence of female CEOs and chairwomen.
During the recent election campaigns, right-wing parties, including Likud, faced sharp criticism for their limited female representation on Knesset candidate lists. In contrast, left-wing and centrist parties highlighted their commitment to gender equality, often pointing fingers at the right. However, the C14 investigation into the private business sector, as represented by TASE-listed firms, presents a starkly different picture.
In the TA-35 index, which comprises the 35 largest companies, only two women serve as CEOs and three as chairwomen, representing approximately 5.7% and 8.6% of these roles, respectively. The TA-90 index, covering 90 smaller companies, shows four female CEOs and five chairwomen, accounting for about 4.4% and 5.6% of their respective positions. Combined, the TA-125 index reveals six female CEOs and eight chairwomen, making up 4.8% and 6.4% of the top leadership roles.
These figures indicate a slight improvement from earlier in the year, but the overall representation of women in senior management at large public companies remains very low. The article contrasts this with the US S&P 500 index, where, despite also having a low percentage of female CEOs (around 9.7%), the number is significantly higher than in Israel. Notable female leaders in the US include Dr. Lisa Su of AMD, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, and Mary Barra of General Motors. Former Oracle CEO Zafra Katz, an Israeli, was also mentioned before her departure in September.
The findings raise a critical question: Does the gender equality championed by left-wing parties primarily apply to public funds, while gender discrimination persists in the private business sector?