Beyond the boys' club? : women's contribution to governance of housing associations in Wales

• Main Author: Oliver, Amanda-Jane
• Published: Cardiff University 2014
• Subjects: 363.5; H Social Sciences (General)
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.646313

This thesis explores women’s contribution to governance through a study of two housing associations in Wales. Whilst housing policy has developed to enhance the role of housing associations, governance and accountability, women are still underrepresented in senior and executive management roles, and are underrepresented at the strategic decision making structures, boards of management. The aims of the research were to: uncover the organisational typology and culture; the governance structures and prevailing board cultures of the housing associations; explore the motivations of board members’ participation and uncover the power relationships on the boards of management in relation to female participation and empowerment. The research used an in-depth case study format with interviews with key informants from the housing sector and Welsh Government; exploratory interviews with the executive teams and board members; discourse analysis of corporate documentation and direct observation of board meetings. The research process developed a unique theoretical framework which was wide ranging, to explore the research aims of governance; organisational typology and culture; empowerment; participation and power dynamics. The research found that whilst housing associations are not inherently sexist, the governance structures, typologies, organisational cultures, routes to participation and power dynamics operated at board level inhibit female participation on boards of management. Housing associations failed to consider the lack of gender and wider diversity on their boards of management. Housing associations have failed to address the situations where dominant members on boards of management hold onto their power, and influence the majority of the decisions made, to the possible detriment of the tenants. Governance and recruitment arrangements are based on a need to preserve the strategic and policy focus on finance, risk, legal and governance issues, and as it is mainly men who are involved in these professions, it is ultimately their views which direct the organisations.