Gender Diversity in Cooperative Boards: Favoring and Hindering Factors in a Scoping Review

Abstract

Cooperatives are built on principles of democracy and equity, yet women continue to be underrepresented in their governance structures. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) scoping review synthesizes 25 peer-reviewed empirical studies on factors enabling or hindering women’s participation in cooperative boards. Across studies, individual enablers include qualifications, prior performance, and collaborative leadership, whereas stereotypes, heightened expectations to overperform, and internalized bias constrain access and legitimacy. Organizational enablers include inclusive recruitment, mentoring, and flexible arrangements; barriers include male-dominated cultures, restrictive bylaws, and informal networks. At the environmental level, quota legislation, training initiatives, and support networks can foster change, but weak enforcement and entrenched social norms often limit impact. Anchored in a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) lens, the review argues that advancing gender diversity requires structural and cultural reforms beyond “fix-the-women” approaches, and offers implications for cooperative leaders and policymakers. These insights support efforts to align cooperative governance with SDGs 5, 10, and 16.