Les femmes dans les associations : la non-mixité des bureaux, reflet de centres d’intérêt différents ou modalité d’accession aux responsabilités pour les femmes ?

In a previous study on volunteer managers in nonprofit organizations (Recma no. 292, May 2004), Viviane Tchernonog highlighted women’s limited access to executive positions. Based on surveys and studies conducted in 2003 and 2004, this article goes into greater depth on the issue of the role of women in nonprofit organizations. Although women have been less numerous than men in executive positions, have made up a smaller proportion of membership, and have been more often employees and less often volunteers, women have become more involved in the nonprofit sector since the early 1980s. This involvement is particularly the case in certain fields and in nonprofit organizations aimed at helping others. After establishing the profile of women in volunteer executive and managerial positions in nonprofit organizations, the article explores the relationship between mixed gender boards, types of nonprofit organizations and the experience of executives. In particular, the authors attempt to test the hypothesis that single gender boards–i.e., when the president, treasurer and manager are women–offer women greater access to managerial positions in nonprofit organizations.