Abstract:
The paper proceeds from the assumption that the inequalities of opportunity between men and women on the labor market and in society overall tend to consolidate in the management bodies of large companies. The predominance of men on the supervisory boards of Germany's largest private sector companies has created a 'male monoculture' there. In the literature, structural and ideological barriers are identified as the reasons for this severe underrepresentation of women. Increasing the percentage of women in management positions in the private sector would still require the support of upper-level (male) management. In other countries, progress has already been made in this area with the use of quotas.