The Case for Gender Quotas

Gender quotas set minimum thresholds for women’s representation in politics, industry, or academia, and were introduced to counter persistent structural barriers. When quotas are obligatory and enforced, they raise the number of women in decision-making positions. I argue that concerns that quotas may violate merit and provoke backlash remain largely unsubstantiated – quotas do not lead to the entrance of unqualified women, and gender-balanced leadership enjoys public support.