The Role of Women in the Transformation of the Organizational Society in Norway

Norway has a reputation of extensive equality between the sexes, and substantial progress has been made in this direction over the past decades. To what extent are these pervasive changes reflected in changing female participation patterns and, subsequently, organizational change? Using unique, quantitative, historical data, we conclude that female representation in voluntary associations has increased substantially within growing segments of the sector. However, women are still underrepresented in leading positions, and new associations are most frequently founded by men. Furthermore, all-female organizations, historically sources of extensive political and ideological influence, are rapidly disappearing.