Equal Opportunity Developments in Banking ‐An International Perspective

The traditional and conservative image of the banking sector now misrepresents the true situation. Banks are in a process of experimentation, rethinking and change. Within this context efforts to create greater equality of opportunity for women must be made, since women form a larger proportion of the labour force in banks than in the economy as a whole. Characteristics of the industry and the position of women within it are examined in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Canada and the USA. Some of the issues related to change, and key efforts to bring about equality of opportunity in any organisation, are addressed. Both internal and external factors have contributed to and inhibited change.