Diversity Quotas, Diverse Perspectives: The Case of Gender

Legislative and institutional means, such as affirmative and positive action policies, which have been put in place to increase accessibility and the participation of historically disadvantaged groups in employment and educational settings, have been with us for some time, particularly in Anglo Saxon countries. One of the major areas where this applies is in relation to gender.Proponents of these policies have hailed quota initiatives as a key tool to promote greater equal opportunities and to reduce discrimination against minorities and disadvantaged groups. At the same time, affirmative action policies and processes have been challenged in courts, in organizations and educational institutions, illustrating the continuing controversies and (un)intended negative consequences of these practices. The complexity of the implementation and outcomes of affirmative actions and policies are the subject of debate across a wide range of academic disciplines and subject areas.Exploring the use of quotas and affirmative action at an institutional and/or organizational level from a variety of different perspectives, the contributors to "Diversity Quotas" provide a better understanding of the controversy and complexity of affirmative policies and actions in different countries. This reveals that even across Europe, countries have varied widely in their creation and implementation of affirmative policies and actions. For example, while most (Western) European countries have employment quotas for persons with disabilities, there is little consistency among the European Union's member states when it comes to, for example, quotas and policies for ethnic minorities in employment and educational settings. Focussing particularly on comparative gender initiatives, the contributors investigate variances in and justifications for policies and propose new perspectives.With contributions from researchers from across the world, focusing mainly on gender related issues but raising questions pertinent to other aspects of diversity, this book offers a more global perspective to understanding diversity quotas and expands the discussion of it beyond Anglo-Saxon contexts.