UC Davis Study: Women Underrepresented in Businesses in California

By Rachel Allen

Previous studies show that a more diverse a company's employees are, the better it performs. So, there is only good ole sexism and the ever present glass-ceiling to blame, then, for the dismal findings of the annual UC Davis Study of California Women Business Leaders released today.

The report shows that of the state's 400 largest public companies fully half have no women in top executive positions, only 13 have a woman chief executive, and women hold only 11 percent of board seats and executive positions.

Those at the top of the list for gender equity include Los Angeles-based community and business lender Nara Bancorp topping the list, with half of its executive positions and board seats occupied by women. San Francisco-based cosmetics firm Bare Essentuals, has women in 46 percent of top leadership posts; Brisbane based Bebe Stores has 43 percent women in top spots; San Diego-based AMN Healthcare Services, with 36 percent; and Los Angeles-area youth apparel chain Hot Topic, at 36 percent.

Kudos to those companies with women in or near parity among the executive positions, and shame on the rest for contributing to the continuation of marginalizing women in business.

Like Obama said in his election night speech, just electing him is not the change we seek; it is only the beginning. We must work for change in every institution in society to turn this country into all that it can be, for everyone.

Rachel Allen is the Public Relations Director of the California Chapter of the National Organization for Women CA NOW).

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