Change that affects race and gender come slowly, even in America. But, this change almost never comes without some outside pressure, law, or regulation. Women and people of color will not be appropriately represented in public company board rooms unless the federal government does something about it. The Congress has passed legislation before to correct imbalances in the opportunities of groups which have been tr
eated unequally. And, the rights of blacks and women to vote were both brought about by amendments to the Constitution. But, then again, so was prohibting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor. The legal process has been used to right profound wrongs and, unfortunately, to advance partisan goals.

There is no evidence that women will be better represented on public company boards at any time in the foreseeable future. That means public shareholders will be deprived of their ability to be represented by people from the largest pool of qualified candidates, not just the group of old white men. That changes the issue from one of women’s rights and racial right to whether shareholders should have access to the best board members

Douglas A. McIntyre