Where Are the Women in Business?
At the second conference I attended in the same week, about the nuclear threat of Iran, at least two speakers were women but again the event was for the most part a testosterone festival. “So what?” you may ask. Here’s what: Britain has a wealth of witty, enormously well-educated, and erudite female professionals in a variety of fields who bring sparkle to a discussion. An event like the Iran conference cried out for a number of female voices. Much as I detest her views on Israel, the columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown would have offered a compelling view on the Iran situation. At the end of October the BBC allowed ultra-right-wing BNP party head Nick Griffin to appear on the panel of the legendary political discussion program Question Time. The presence on the panel of the witty Bonnie Greer, the African-American writer, brought humor and warmth to the otherwise grim proceedings.
Fact: the FTSE 100’s four female finance chiefs are Stacey Cartwright at Burberry, Julia Wilson at 3i, Jann Brown at Cairn Energy, and Friends Provident’s Evelyn Bourke. Here is an amusing observation from the City Spy column in the print edition of the Evening Standard newspaper: Linda Hudson is the newly appointed head of the American wing (no pun intended) of British Aerospace. City Spy says this would ordinarily make her a candidate for group chief executive but BAE’s articles of association prohibit a non-Briton from becoming chief executive. The Spy’s conclusion? This is probably illegal if challenged. Be that as it may, here is yet another woman at the high end of industrial management but not one to be seen at the major conferences I have been attending.
The catastrophic events of 1929 were driven by men. When Lehman Brothers fell, Dick Fuld was seen as the villain. Enron? In the present credit crisis the villains in Britain are headed up by Sir Fred Goodwin of Royal Bank of Scotland, known as “Fred the Shred” because of his enormous pension fund taken in the wake of a financial crisis. The lists go on and on.
On November 6, I appeared on the panel of the nationally broadcast BBC Radio Four political debate program Any Questions and my fellow panelist was the feisty Caroline Flint, a former cabinet minister who left the Labour government after accusing Prime Minister Gordon Brown of “negative bullying.” She got heaps of applause from the audience with her robust views on sex education, the Afghanistan war, and the MP expense scandals. Afterwards I thought she would be a welcome face at 10 Downing Street.
My book Spitfire Girls, about the brave women who risked their lives flying thousands of untried aircraft from factories to airbases in the Second World War, celebrates the achievements of these female pilots. Now in 2009 a brave woman has taken on a mass murderer in Fort Hood, Texas. Yes, a man could have done the same, but she is proof that women have the right stuff too. I can already hear PJM bloggers complaining about female Governor Blanco of Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina and the money matters of one Imelda Marcos, but the crimes of men far, far exceed those of women in the present economic catastrophe. Let’s hear from successful women at those stuffy think tank conferences: they are succeeding where many men are not, and they have absolutely and unequivocally not caused the present disasters in which we find ourselves.
Ms. Gould: “…but the crimes of men far, far exceed those of women in the present economic catastrophe.”
The crimes of Demoncrat men to be more specific. How about Maxine Watters, and Barbara Lee and their involvement in Fanny/Freddie? How about the Democrats during 1929? Be specific in your critque please.
Besides a boring commentary, your point is tedious in that it has been discussed ad nauseum.
If you really want to be critical of men how about researching and writing about Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Franklin Raines’ involvement in the economic collapse.
Thank God for affirmative action though.
BULL-oney!
While may of you may have had different experiences, this is what I have observed in the last 10-15 years.
Many years ago it was argued that if only women were allowed to enter the workforce and really participate they would soften the climate, imbue humanitarianism, and raise the bar for appropriate behavior (like the argument given for busing children an hour both ways to sub standard schools-this would raise the bar for the failing schools and spur academic growth-NOT).
Contrary to this argument women are now equal participants in business. While most of them stay out of trouble many have become as vulgar, arrogant, and common as the men with which they work. Filthy mouths and integrity challenged, they play the game because that is the way to get ahead. They buy into the lie that “we can have it all”. This is shear foolishness, no one can have it ALL. By blurring the lines between men and women we have deprived ourselves of the good to embrace the mediocre.
I would not deprived anyone man or women of their opportunity to fulfill their dreams and ambitions. In todays world however there is very little difference between men and women in the business world. The biggest difference is women are more discreet and not as easily caught in wrongdoing. I’m sure this too shall pass, good behavior usually does.
fresh off their corporate jets — and probably fresh out of the laps of female companions there just for “entertainment” — they were male, male, male.
Is there a reason you made this incredibly rude suggestion?
Ms Gould did not complain of any barriers prohibiting female entry into business. Rather she only pined for some fifty-three percent Camelot. I am not impressed. he fact is that men and women are different,and make different choices.
It is bizarre, but change has got to happen naturally. I hate the idea of “affirmative action”.
Two pages and I have yet to find a point to this article. Perhaps the women of business were busy running there companies. Perhaps they thought these conferences a waste of time and money. I certainly don’t know the reason and I can’t find any answers in this article either.
Are these business women not invited? Are they banned from participating? I just don’t know. Hummm
This reminds me of another ominous trend. As I white male, 5’9” tall and middle aged I can’t find any like me in the NBA. What is going on here?
US Colleges and universities are seeing more women matriculate than men. Any lingering “old boy” networks or clubs cannot be sustained in the future.
Oddly, I know a male human-resources manager who sees a trend in that field of women seeking to hire or promote other women. Maybe his situation is unique, but I can’t help but think about the uniformity of tenure granting in academia or the lockstep of newsroom world-views.
To make it to the top requires talent and drive, as well as a likable personality. Precious few women have all three, but only a fool underestimates those that do (like Sarah Palin).
Women don’t need to be in business. Why should they take any risks when they own the only area of growth in America…the federally and state funded bureaucracy. And if the stories of corruption there were known they’d dwarf anything in the world of business. What a scam!
I very much enjoyed this article. I’m a female attorney in my late fifties, self employed in private practice. I spent the first decade of my professional career being “the first woman to” everything. It was fun but it was also quite a strain.
We’ve come a long way in terms of overcoming sex discrimination. Many doors are open to women today. However, women still do face some barriers, especially in the higher levels of business and the professions, and you’ve described one symptom of these barriers very well – there are plenty of talented successful women who could speak at these conferences, but apparently no one thinks of inviting them.
I’m glad to see this issue taken up in a conservative blog and presented in a realistic rather than a rabid way.
Are you blind Carol ?
I have one name for you Carol, Nancy Pelosi.
I’ll give you another, Martha Stuart.
And who’s to say Oprah wasn’t involved in campaign finance fraud with Obama? Just because they aren’t caught doesn’t mean they aren’t involved.
Whine! whine! whine!
In order for women to be equal to men they would have to be men. Why this woman can’t see the facts is beyond belief. Dogs and cats are both pets, but no one would think them equal. These attempts to emasculate men are boring and stupid.
Did women want to be in that room that was full of men? Did they make choices that prevented them from being there? In my MBA program, women made up about 25% of the students. The school was very honest and said that they would like to have more, but just don’t get enough qualified women applicants. Then in the finance electives the percentages dropped even more. If women aren’t studying business and finance at top schools (this was one) then they’re probably not going to make it to the top of the company.
If you want to fix that – assuming that it needs to be fixed – the best way to do so would be inspiration and leadership. The worst way would be anti-discrimination lawsuits and affirmative action to try to correct the situation. That’s Van Jones thinking: “give them the wealth”.
The minds of men and women are differently constructed (biological, evolutionary). Women, as is often said, are good at “multitasking; in a group setting they tend to take greater notice of others concerns and feelings.
But because of the unique construction of the minds of men, they are able to focus on problems with much greater depth, and precision. Which is why, despite the female liberation event, and a huge rise in college attendance by women, men still receive 95% of all patents issued. Whether in the sciences, philosophy, or business, men are simply more creative.
So shake your finger at Bernie Madoff (he deserves it), but remember to thank all the other men who have invented those household and medical creations that have made your life so much easier.
Chris
It seems to me that generalities in relationship to women and their roles (whether working at home; outside home, both, etc.) are not a satisfactory way to create discussion and/or an article. Women have always been a part of the business world – whether seen or not. That brings to mind ego issues…but I digress.
Perhaps we should look at the inability of many of our senior managers to behave in an ethical manner. Tell me – how many of us would not compromise for a high six-figure income? Or more?? I’ll say this – pay me that and I’ll do my best to stay ethical. heh
Damn it, who let Carol out of the kitchen. Get the hell back in there and bake me a pie! Better seen than heard, Carol, better seen than heard…
I guess there aren’t very many female speakers. I wonder how they are going to change that up. They even might need to bring a lawyer into the mix because things are getting so bad. I know there are many lawyers to choose from but I would choose Kenton M. Hall Criminal Defense Lawyer because they have tons of experience and are really good at what they do.