Women in Norway have been largely successful in gaining political influence. Thirty years ago, only 15% of the representatives on the Storting (Norwegian national assembly) were women, whereas in recent years the figure has varied between 36 and 39 per cent. The increased parity between women and men in decision-making is closely linked to education and employment opportunities for women. However, competence, experience, gender-friendly attitudes and goodwill are not sufficient in themselves. Experience indicates that the proportion of women in political institutions will not increase unless targeted measures such as special campaigns and gender quotas are employed.
A system of gender quotas was first adopted within the Socialist Left Party and the Liberal Party as far back as the 1970s. Today virtually all of the major Norwegian parties apply a gender quota system in nominations to elections as well as to the make-up of party-governing bodies at all levels. This quota system is voluntary and self-imposed. Norway does not have any legal provision for gender balance in political parties or directly elected bodies.
A quota system has also been introduced for publicly appointed committees, boards and councils. Thirty years ago, women comprised only 11 percent of the representation of such assemblages. In 1981, provisions concerning a required gender balance in publicly appointed committees, etc., were introduced into the Gender Equality Act, and since 1988 this requirement has stipulated that there shall be a minimum of 40% of each gender. After the most recent amendment, the level of female representation improved from 22 percent, reaching a stable 40 percent in 1997.
In 1986, Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland appointed a Government featuring a record number of women. Since then, no Norwegian Government has been formed with less than 40 per cent women.
Gender representation on company boards
An average of 8.5% of the board members (shareholder and employee-elected representatives) in public limited companies in the Norwegian private sector are women (figures from July 2003). In government-owned enterprises, the figure is 45.7% (figures from March 2003).
As from 1 January 2004, company legislation provisions regarding board representation for all state-owned enterprises have been amended. The boards of such enterprises are required to have a minimum of 40 per cent representation of both genders. Corresponding amendments have been adopted for public limited companies in the private sector, but these regulations will not come into effect if the desired gender balance is achieved voluntarily during the course of 2005. This legislation will ensure increased gender equality and democracy, will strengthen management in the business sector and will boost company competitiveness.
This legislation does not apply to private limited liability companies. In Norway, such companies mostly comprise small family companies in which the owners are natural persons who serve on their own boards. The legislation on gender representation is less suited to this type of company. In a public limited company, on the other hand, stock ownership will be more widely distributed and the company management is of a less personal nature.
By the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family Affairs