Is the Financial Industry Sexist?
I love me some sexism. I mean…next to sex, what’s better than ism? Putting all humor to the side, however, I was pretty surprised to read that securities, commodities and financial services sales agents, is rated #2 on the list of most sexist industries.
Now obviously the article by Jenna Goudreau is a puff piece, whose childish logic and morose subject matter has been elevated to the status of academic intelligentsia by our degenerating society. This, however, does not preclude the possibility of the claim itself being valid.
We all know that Wall Street and its many minor and major tentacles are an extended boys club. If we were really looking to be fair and unbiased, we could easily say that it is a world which seeks to keep everyone out but the most privileged and potentially marketable.
That having been said, I really don’t see that Wall Street and finance in general discriminates against women. I have no problem in having this view challenged or (if factual evidence exists) being proven wrong. The fear and likelihood of being sued lurks around every corner for bulge brackets, top props and institutional sales giants. Yes, we have all grown up with the Glengarry Glenn Ross style brokerage in the back of our minds but that world simply does not exist in the same way it once did.
I am curious to hear about your experiences with sexism on the street. My inclination is to think that sexism actually works in favor of women when it comes to the hiring process.
This topic is often brought up tangentially and results in a shit flinging contest. I would like to see if we can have a legitimate discussion about it. If there’s any ladies who are not by now offended by the mere view of my screen name, I would really like to hear what you have to say on the subject. My honest feeling is that sexism is an issue we have largely overcome as a society and the financial services industry is actually among the forerunners in this regard.
What do you think?
Although I fully admit that when it comes to full-time recruiting, men have a better chance of getting hired, but prior to full-time recruiting, women are considered underrepresented minority in this industry and hence there are many minority program that women can apply and partake in. These minority programs (internships) lead to full time offers easily and hence level the playing field a little.
In the end, whoever tries the hardest and is connected the most wins.
Lol also the number one on this ranking is Personal Financial Adviser. I would consider it as financial industry but I guess Forbes thinks otherwise. So basically top 2 most sexist jobs are from finance. lol
Less biddies equals less problems and drama.. Can't get rid of them, can't live without them
I'm so on this when I'm off work. Yes it's SO advantageous during interviews when you get told that you'll meet a BSD husband within two years so don't worry so much about finding employment. I mean - with those kind of exit opps who cares about the sexism right? :) It's not so much direct sexism (because everyone is afraid of being sued) but indirect such as at an investor conference I was at. One guy was discussing capital fundraising and when asked what helped him get the funding he replied his wife's cooking. To the credit of the younger generation - the two younger guys with him looked over towards my table where I sat with two other women and began shifting around in their seats. There might be hope for the next generation. I have also been groped by more old drunk PE dudes than I care to state. Another woman I know has had men knocking on her hotel door trying to "talk." emails with propositions.
Sexism doesn't exist? Please lol.
Hey uh...so whatcha doin later tonight?
There's still plenty of this kind of stuff going on, but for the most part, I don't think it'd be too much of an issue unless you make it an issue.
MMM was asking if sexism existed - not if we make an issue of it. Empathizer ;p
And then what? That's it? I think you forgot the sexist part.
Its not because you have breasts, its because you are a boob.
Like it or not, no matter how many degrees you have and no matter how impressive your resume is, evolution means we see you first and foremost as a sexual object. My first thought on young female colleagues is always wondering how fetchingly awkward in bed they'd be, considering the surprising lack of sexual experience among professional girls.
Wait, someone actually TOLD you in an interview that you'll meet a BSD husband within two years? Like the interviewer told you that?
JK (before you kill me).
Best PA I ever had was a woman. True story.
I have become a lot more sexist because of seeing all the really really dumb chicks get into the industry through bitches in banking programs.
I smell another nycsa debate brewing.
And great article, Midas. Very well written
I had a professor at school who was an unapologetic man-hater. Most of her reading materials heavily promoted the idea that women are always better natural leaders than men. Questions on exams almost always had to do with advising women how to succeed in the testosterone-addled, unfriendly world of Wall Street. Naturally, everyone knows that If the opposite was said about men, there would be a lawsuit.
In a paper for that class, I tried arguing that different fields were better suited to personality types, and therefore it didn't really make sense to say that acknowledging that men and women were better at different things meant you were sexist. I noted how few complaints there were about "gender discrimination" in nursing, or early childhood education. Needless to say, she didn't like that.
The point, monkeys, is that people who are always looking for sexism will always find it if they turn their heads and squint. It still exists, but it doesn’t do to psychoanalyze.
Asking men* about sexism is like asking the rich WASP about racism. You might get a few words strung together that make some sense but rarely any real understanding.
*Actually on WSO, we're talking mainly about ignorant college boys.
Yeah, because only women can provide an authoritative, unbiased, eloquent opinion on sex relations, just like only minorities are qualified to comment on race relations. Rich WASPy men should just have to bend over and accept whatever opinions anyone else holds, grinning all the while.
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