The glass ceiling that refuses to break: Women directors on the boards of listed firms in China and India

This study uses quantitative analysis to build as complete a picture as possible of the gendered-nature of boardrooms in major listed firms in China and India. Data were collected and analysed to understand where women hold boardroom positions across the range of company sizes and types in both countries. In particular, data were analysed to establish the extent to which board size, company size (market capitalisation), workforce size, industry sector and/or firm ownership type are related to the presence of women on the board of a company. It was discovered that women do better than average in firms from within the financial services sector, and in firms with a larger work-force size. State-owned firms do comparatively better in India than in China, possibly reflecting the fact that women's political empowerment in India is more advanced than in China, and much more advanced than women's economic participation in India. •I collected data on women directors for all S&P CNX500 companies in 2010 (India).•I collected data on women directors for all Chinese H-share companies in 2008 & 2011.•This data was correlated with data on board size, company size & workforce size.•Correlations were also run by industry sector and firm ownership type.•Finance sector firms and firms with larger workforce size have more women directors.