Financial performance and gender diversity. The effect of family management after a decade attempt

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate family management, financial performance and gender diversity of listed firms. Design/methodology/approach Using the India stock market as a testing ground, this paper used descriptive statistics and panel regression with random effect assumptions in the analysis of 800 firm-year observations between 2010 and 2019. Findings The findings show that an improvement in stock price returns leads to a corresponding increase in women employment. Also, the study shows that an increase in family-managed firms leads to a decrease in the number of women employed in listed firms. This paper speculates using the social role theory that family involvement may see women as the weaker vessel and with a role to concentrate on raising children and handling house affairs. The consequence is a decrease in women employment. The study also shows that the interactive variable of financial performance (return on assets and return on equity) × family-managed firms still causes a decrease in women employment. This paper perceives that managers in family-managed firms see women as weaker vessels and home managers which is consistent with the Indian culture. The results are robust after controlling for endogeneity. Research limitations/implications The research study is limited to large firms on the Indian stock market that submit sustainability reports and also used a single country data that can potentially limit the generalisation of the study. Originality/value No studies have combined social role theory in examining the effect of family management on gender diversity in the emerging markets.