Shaking Up (and Keeping Intact) the Old Boys’ Network: The Impact of the Mandatory Gender Quota on the Board of Directors in India

Prior research on the impact of mandatory quotas in one dimension diversity, other dimensions, shows contradictory results. We seek to resolve this puzzle by relying theory social psychology homophily and recategorization processes hiring. In context a law mandating gender quota Indian boards, we predict find that boards respond hiring new women directors who are similar existing terms caste community dimensions. effect is impactful extent even high-status cannot overcome it. At aggregate level, these organizational-level practices result inequalities remaining intact despite introduction 1309 directors. contribute inequality, board directors, affirmative action.