Cracking the Code, which aims to debunk 10 myths about women in business, found that 50% of women count success as very important in their careers, compared to 31% of men, countering the myth that women lack the aspiration to strive for senior roles.
The report also suggests the business case for gender diversity is still not accepted by many organisations.
Rachel Short, director in the London office for business psychologists YSC, told HR magazine the benefits are well established in research. However, unless employers see them on a local level they may not act on them.
"Many businesses haven't had the benefits for their particular balance sheets explained to them. They don't see the case put in front of them first-hand. It is possible to go into individual organisations and do this but many companies are still reluctant to see it," she said.
Helena Morrisey, CEO of Newton Investment Management, founded the 30% Club to promote gender diversity. The organisation aims to see 30% female representation on executive boards by 2015.
Morrisey said that to do this we will need to increase the pipeline of women in non executive director roles, which will require a dramatic change of approach. "We will only see a quantum leap towards gender balance at all levels when organisations treat this as a mainstream, not a diversity issue," she said.
Short said part of the reason why these myths had been perpetuated for so long was well established gender roles that have largely been unchallenged.
"People only see what they are primed to see," she said. "If you expect to see that women are emotionally intelligent, but not as suited as top financial roles than men then you are more likely to see that. These gender roles have been established since the Industrial Revolution so people are slow to accept change in them."
Top 10 myths about women in business
- Women don't aspire to senior leadership roles
- Women don't stick it out to to make it to the very top
- Childrearing stops women getting to the top
- Women don't get to the top because they lack confidence
- Women lack the leadership qualities needed at the top
- Women don't have the networks that opened doors to the top
- Senior women leaders pull up the career ladder behind them
- High potential programmes are fast-tracking women
- Formal flexible working arrangement aid women's routes to the top
- The business case for gender diversity is working
