- Disappointing few women on top in the business world – Dagsavisen

By Irene Halvorsen and Sofie Prestegård

34 years after Gro Harlem Brundtland became Norway’s first female prime minister is Norwegian women still underrepresented Norwegian industry and in local politics.

– It’s very strange. One thing is that it was like that 30 years ago, but that it has gone so dull, it is surprising and disappointing, said Brundtland.

Women on top

SSB figures that is 15.7 percent women of the general managers of the corporation in Norway in 2015.

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According to an ILO report published in the New Year this year has 32.2 percent of Norwegian women no managerial experience whatsoever, while Jamaica, which sits at the top of the list, has almost 60 per cent. The figures collected during the period 2000- 2012 shows that both Colombia, Nicaragua and Mongolia located above Norway.

Brundtland believes gender imbalance in Norwegian industry is about culture.

– These decisions are taken on individual basis. But the sum of all the choices makes compromising gærent.

At least as good

Brundtland believes it is important to have continuous pressure on equality issues, and debating skewed distribution.

– We must also be aware of the many women who are just below this echelons and how many of them are good and could do an equally good job – at least.

In particular state who owns the past year has been challenged on the low percentage of female senior managers of companies in which they are built as significant ownership. In 47 of these, only 11 percent of female top executives, according to a tally Dagens Næringsliv has done.

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– It is very easy to set claims and talk about diversity, but when it comes to decisions then it is very difficult to create legislation that makes sure you get a result that you want – namely balance. Especially now that you are so far. It is not easy.

Men on the charts

Also in local politics goes slowly. More than two out of three of the parties’ top candidates on the lists for the autumn local elections are men. Dagens Næringsliv has mapped the sex distribution among top candidates, and by 2521 chart hits in parties represented in Parliament, there are only 773 women. There is a ratio of 31 percent.

Brundtland believes it is important to find out why.

– Do we know if it is difficult for parties to get women candidates to stand on the charts ? Or is it that congregations that choose them not put enough emphasis on that there should be more women on the lists? asks Brundtland.

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If it is difficult because women say no, mean Brundtland it can act on the work of local politics is run.

– There are evening meetings, it is voluntary, you should have babysitting. There is much that is difficult, that perhaps should be thought through, if this is the main reason.

– Do you miss throttle in any way on equality issues in the public Norway?

– Yes. It is not becoming a central theme. It may be noted. It’s not there. It should probably have been the greater degree. It’s good that it comes up at least now in front of the municipal elections. It is an important issue, by many.

Do we have the goal

Brundtland feel that fighting for women who stood as the strongest in the 60s and 70s, flattened out at 90- s.

She now see that youth are less concerned with gender issues because they see it as a pre-fought match.

– “We have the equality,” responds the youths spontaneously. There is a misconception. They forget to think that if it is something one does not speak of and no longer takes up and fighting for, so it slides into the background.