Introduction
Workforce gender diversity is increasing in countries all over the world (International
Labour Office 2007). For example, women’s representation in the US civilian labor force
has increased from 29.4% in 1950 (U.S. Census Bureau 1970) to 46.3% in 2006 (U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007). Similarly, women’s representation in the Australian
labor force has increased from 22.9% in 1954 (Commonwealth Bureau of Census and
Statistics 1958) to 46.1% in 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). The increase in
workforce gender diversity is attributed to a number of factors. One critical factor is a
country’s legislation. For instance, the Australian Affirmative Action (Equal Employment
Opportunity for Women) Act 1986, like similar acts in the USA, Canada, Mexico, the UK,
New Zealand, and South Africa (just to name a few), established equal employment
opportunity as a legal responsibility of organizations (Cotter 2004). Equal opportunity
laws have pushed organizations to employ women resulting in enhanced levels of gender
Introduction
Workforce gender diversity is increasing in countries all over the world (International
Labour Office 2007). For example, women’s representation in the US civilian labor force
has increased from 29.4% in 1950 (U.S. Census Bureau 1970) to 46.3% in 2006 (U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007). Similarly, women’s representation in the Australian
labor force has increased from 22.9% in 1954 (Commonwealth Bureau of Census and
Statistics 1958) to 46.1% in 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). The increase in
workforce gender diversity is attributed to a number of factors. One critical factor is a
country’s legislation. For instance, the Australian Affirmative Action (Equal Employment
Opportunity for Women) Act 1986, like similar acts in the USA, Canada, Mexico, the UK,
New Zealand, and South Africa (just to name a few), established equal employment
opportunity as a legal responsibility of organizations (Cotter 2004). Equal opportunity
laws have pushed organizations to employ women resulting in enhanced levels of gender
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