Gender equality and ESG – how and why
A thesis debated at the University of Padua effectively summarises the relations between two key elements in modern corporate management
Gender equality and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards – important concepts to be fully comprehended and implemented, though not always an easy path to follow, especially for small and medium enterprises. It is around these issues that Maura Massara’s study revolves, a thesis debated at the University of Padua’s Department of Political science, law and international studies.
Entitled “Parità di genere e sostenibilità sociale: il contributo dell’indice ‘Environmental Social and Governance’” (“Gender equality and social sustainability: the contribution of the Environmental, Social and Governance index”), the study summarises the existing relations between a key aspect of corporate management – the attainment of gender equality – and the indications entailed by the ESG index, which encapsulates a number of requirements that, nowadays, all good enterprises must necessarily fulfil.
Thus, the work begins by looking at the ‘S’ in ESG – social sustainability – with a particular focus on gender equality.
Massara’s study follows a simple structure: first of all, it explains and analyses the ESG index according to its three key traits; then it provides a more in-depth exploration of “gender equality within social sustainability”; and finally it looks at a start-up project set up in 2022 with the aim of assisting small and medium enterprises in keeping up-to-date with all topics inherent to ESG, so that no company would be penalised by the index, especially in terms of gender equality. This outlines a particular aspect of a corporate culture that must be increasingly shared by all types of production organisation.
As Maura Massara concludes, “The promotion of social sustainability, including gender equality, is no longer a mere gratuitous act but a valuable corporate strategy.” And indeed, Massara’s thesis provides an excellent overview of such a complex and constantly evolving theme.
Massara Maura
Thesis, University of Padua, Department of Political science, law and international studies
Degree in political science, international relationships and human rights, 2023
A thesis debated at the University of Padua effectively summarises the relations between two key elements in modern corporate management
Gender equality and ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards – important concepts to be fully comprehended and implemented, though not always an easy path to follow, especially for small and medium enterprises. It is around these issues that Maura Massara’s study revolves, a thesis debated at the University of Padua’s Department of Political science, law and international studies.
Entitled “Parità di genere e sostenibilità sociale: il contributo dell’indice ‘Environmental Social and Governance’” (“Gender equality and social sustainability: the contribution of the Environmental, Social and Governance index”), the study summarises the existing relations between a key aspect of corporate management – the attainment of gender equality – and the indications entailed by the ESG index, which encapsulates a number of requirements that, nowadays, all good enterprises must necessarily fulfil.
Thus, the work begins by looking at the ‘S’ in ESG – social sustainability – with a particular focus on gender equality.
Massara’s study follows a simple structure: first of all, it explains and analyses the ESG index according to its three key traits; then it provides a more in-depth exploration of “gender equality within social sustainability”; and finally it looks at a start-up project set up in 2022 with the aim of assisting small and medium enterprises in keeping up-to-date with all topics inherent to ESG, so that no company would be penalised by the index, especially in terms of gender equality. This outlines a particular aspect of a corporate culture that must be increasingly shared by all types of production organisation.
As Maura Massara concludes, “The promotion of social sustainability, including gender equality, is no longer a mere gratuitous act but a valuable corporate strategy.” And indeed, Massara’s thesis provides an excellent overview of such a complex and constantly evolving theme.
Massara Maura
Thesis, University of Padua, Department of Political science, law and international studies
Degree in political science, international relationships and human rights, 2023