Where Are the Women in Business?
Despite clawing their way up the ladder, women remain all but invisible at many conferences on business, finance, and foreign affairs.
OK, guys, let’s face it: every time there is a story about absolutely crapola behavior in the world of high finance and big money, the villains are men.
Going way back to the British Guinness scandal, the heavies were males, and various scams and power deals gone wrong were masterminded by fellas. There were names like Gerald Ronson and Roger Levitt in the UK and in the U.S. we had Ivan Boesky, Ken Lay, Bernie Madoff, and Dick Fuld involved in either scams and Ponzis or spectacular failures. Even Ponzi was a guy.
When the car supremos sat trembling before the congressional committees, fresh off their corporate jets — and probably fresh out of the laps of female companions there just for “entertainment” — they were male, male, male.
What is my point? Recently I attended the inaugural conference of a worthy new organization in London, the Legatum Institute, which is connected to the distinguished American Enterprise Institute. The topic of the event was corporate crises and the financial slump. I got there early and had the pleasure of sitting at a table with Lord Lawson, former Thatcher cabinet minister but better known as the father of television chef Nigella Lawson. (I will digress: this sexy, buxom lady, a household name, probably has more influence in the lives of Britons than do all those male financial wizards rolled into one.)
As the Legatum breakfast room filled I realized I was the only woman present. It was a strange, surreal feeling: my table was populated by young men in suits, as were all of the other tables as far as I could see. Then one woman arrived: I recognized her as Baroness Neville-Jones, the former head of British intelligence, and was pleased I had such illustrious company. The day wore on and panel after panel held forth about the perils of the present financial turmoil but not one woman spoke. I mentioned this at one of the question-and-answer sessions, naming top female executives who had been singled out for plaudits by the London Evening Standard newspaper, but got stony stares from the stage. The lunchtime speaker was a man. Again, the table at which I was seated was filled with suits. They were nice blokes but where were the women?
I ask this because right now the most successful, untarnished, and formidable people in industry are women. In the United States Oprah Winfrey comes to mind and here in the UK Dame Marjorie Scardino heads the Pearson Group. Like Clara Furse (she was head of the London Stock Exchange for eight years) she has enjoyed considerable career success, as has Cynthia Carroll, head of Anglo-American, the world’s biggest platinum producer. (I love the idea that Carroll has a BS in geology from Skidmore College, an MS from the University of Kansas, and an MBA from Harvard — and ends up in London.) Another American in London, Angela Ahrendts, is a top executive at Burberry. Although it grieves me that my editor at Random House, Vanessa Neuling, was one of some thirty staff made redundant at that publisher, Gail Rebuck, its CEO, also known as Lady Gould (no relation), appears to be the darling of British industry this year, having been awarded the Veuve Cliqot Businesswomen of the Year Award.
Page 1 of 2 Next ->
Carol Gould is the Philadelphia-born author of Don’t Tread on Me: Anti-Americanism Abroad, Spitfire Girls, and A Room at Camp Pickett, a play about her mother’s experiences as a WAC in World War II; she has just completed films about black GIs and GI babies. Carol has been a panelist on BBC's Any Questions?, hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, and is a commentator on Sky News, Press TV, the BBC World Service, and Five Live.
 |
 |
 |
Podcasts |  PJM Home |
Pajamas Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:
1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.
4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.
5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.
The clause regarding "hate speech" has been deleted because readers criticized it as being too loosely defined. We agreed.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that Pajamas Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pajamasmedia.com.
19 Comments
1. blotto: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.
Nov 16, 2009 - 5:36 am 2. pelaut:BULL-oney!
Nov 16, 2009 - 5:50 am 3. seanmahair: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.
Nov 16, 2009 - 6:13 am 4. Mari: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?
Nov 16, 2009 - 7:00 am 5. DavidL: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.
Nov 16, 2009 - 8:13 am 6. Mary Jackson:It is bizarre, but change has got to happen naturally. I hate the idea of “affirmative action”.
Nov 16, 2009 - 9:06 am 7. jbroookins: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?
Nov 16, 2009 - 10:19 am 8. tired: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.
Nov 16, 2009 - 11:17 am 9. myth buster: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).
Nov 16, 2009 - 12:01 pm 10. Bernard Chapin: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!
Nov 16, 2009 - 4:09 pm 11. Katie: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.
Nov 16, 2009 - 7:03 pm 12. Will:Are you blind Carol ?
Nov 17, 2009 - 4:51 am 13. Real Deal:I have one name for you Carol, Nancy Pelosi.
Nov 17, 2009 - 8:30 am 14. Real Deal: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.
Nov 17, 2009 - 12:55 pm 15. gernot:Whine! whine! whine!
Nov 18, 2009 - 9:52 am 16. Tristan Yates: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”.
Nov 18, 2009 - 11:24 am 17. Chris: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
Nov 18, 2009 - 1:43 pm 18. Kelly Bess: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
Nov 18, 2009 - 2:20 pm 19. donttreadonme: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…
Nov 18, 2009 - 6:25 pm