The second glass ceiling: The dark side of women recategorization in corporate boards

Abstract

Previous research has shown evidence of the existence of glass ceilings, especially for women who face several barriers to reach the most powerful corporate positions. However, even when these women have reached the board, they seem to experience resistance within this group, a second glass ceiling that prevents them from being appointed to the most influential positions of the board. Based on categorization and recategorization theories and using a sample of publicly listed Spanish firms during the period 2004–2012, we find that women directors with characteristics that should facilitate their promotion to most board leadership and major board committee positions are not reaching them, that is, are not recategorized. Moreover, we uncover that it is also hard for women to attract more women and evolve into their own majority group, as the number of women directors does not increase when women are already directors in those boards.