despite their struggle for equality, a survey reveals.

And women make up only a quarter of the 912 board members -- just five percent more than 1984.

In addition, there are no women on 21 boards.

The survey was carried out by the Business & Professional Women's Association of Bermuda (BPWA).

Yesterday association heads stated women -- who make up 48 percent of the workforce -- were still losing out to men in a key area of the fight for equality.

Said BPWA founder Dr. Marjorie Bean: "We, as women, feel we are not given as important a share of responsibility as we should have considering we are a large part of the workforce.

"We also represent a well educated part of the workforce.'' Dr. Bean said the survey showed there had not been great progress in boosting women's voice on boards.

It could be compared with a similar BPWA survey carried out in 1984, she added.

This revealed that only 20 percent of the 862 people on 105 boards were women.

And just two percent of the boards were chaired by women.

The survey, Dr. Bean pointed out, also showed there were no women on 33 boards.

"There has not been a great deal of progress over the ten years,'' said Dr.

Bean.

BPWA president Mrs. Dolores Darrell pointed out: "There has even been a one percent decrease in the number of women chairing the boards.'' She added this year the BPWA put forward to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan 16 names of women to serve on boards and committees.

"To our knowledge only two were appointed.'' Yesterday Sir John confronted the BPWA at its luncheon at a Front Street restaurant.

About 74 people were present, including association members and friends.

Sir John said the need to increase women's role in Bermuda was being tackled.

And he told the association women would play a crucial role in Bermuda's future.

Sir John spoke of a "new Bermuda'' taking shape in a rapidly changing world, which saw America looking to boost its own interests.

Bermuda faced a crossroads, said Sir John.

Dr. Bean described the speech as "thought provoking''.

"It made us aware that we have to be serious minded about Bermuda's future, because of the evaporation of the British, American and Canadian Bases.

"He stressed the importance of thoughtful and serious consideration to where we are going. Change is inevitable.'' Mrs. Darrell said Sir John did not "directly'' tackle the association's concerns about women.

Mrs. Darrell said the association felt Government should consider filling boards up with younger people "with fresh ideas''.

There should also be more women, she stressed.

Mrs. Darrell said Sir John explained Sen. Grant Gibbons (UBP), who was present at the luncheon, would address women's concerns.

"He pointed out he did not make the decisions about who to appoint to boards.

"He passes on the names to different Ministers and they are the ones who select persons.'' Mrs. Darrell said Sir John was also questioned on knighthoods.

"There has never been a woman knighted as a Dame in the history of Bermuda.

"We know that a woman's name was put forward seven years ago.''