Age of Alpha Males in High Finance Coming to End-World Seeking Women

[terisan]

US Still Far Behind in Realizing the Real Change means Gender Equality-Men in Suits-Bring Us War and Economic Collapse.

WASHINGTON POST

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021002398.html?hpid=topnews>

As the global financial crisis deepens, the first rumblings of a gender revolution are underway in an industry long controlled by men.

Banks, hedge funds and other financial organizations that have led the international economy's downward spiral are overwhelmingly male-dominated. The regulators and legislators assigned to oversee the financiers are also mostly men.

"There are quite a lot of alpha males with testosterone steaming out their ears," said Stuart Fraser, one of London's top financial sector officials.

In Britain, women account for just 12 percent of corporate directorships of companies on the FTSE 100 stock exchange index, according to a group of major British business leaders who have called for "urgent action" to increase the number of women at the top levels of business.

In the United States, women hold 17 percent of the corporate directorships -- and 2.5 percent of the CEO posts -- in the finance and insurance industries, according to Catalyst, a U.S.-based nonprofit group that promotes opportunities for women in business.

"Maybe if we had some more women in the boardrooms, we may not have seen as much risk-taking behavior," said Hazel Blears, one of two female members of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's cabinet who weighed in on the gender debate here this week.

Harriet Harman, the minister for women and equality, blasted the banking world for "discrimination and harassment" against women, including a culture of using lap-dancing clubs for corporate entertainment.

Amid the debate about whether the financial crisis would have happened, or been as severe, if more women had been in charge, there are signs that more women will be taking part in the global rescue..................

[anonymous171]

1. Pelosi, Thatcher, Condi. nt

[Cronopio]

3. Exactly. Chromosomal makeup and sexual plumbing are a non-issue when it comes to mendacity.

A different hormonal balance is only a solution for shallow, sexist minds.

Continuing your list: Lipni, Palin, Bachman ...

[devilgrrl]

6. Carly Fiorina, Leona Helmsley

:puke:

[WCGreen]

2. Please nurture us back to financial health...

Swinging dicks have got to go...

[zagging]

4. I've heard no such debate

"Amid the debate about whether the financial crisis would have happened, or been as severe, if more women had been in charge..."

I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but I could use a link or two.

[terisan]

5. If you click on the link the rest of the article gives several examples. nt

[zagging]

7. That's not debate, really

A debate would have opposing sides. That was pretty much a one sided argument without any commentary other than each soundbite supporting a preordained conclusion. OK, sure, it might be a good idea, but it also might not make a bit of difference. As a matter of fact, it might be considered by some outright sexism to think that women are categorically differently abled than men in business.

Not by me, of course.