I feel I had to write in and comment on your recent item 'Women Aren't Made To Get To The Top'. Here's my male perspective:

'The opinions expressed in this article are based on very negative generalisations, and consequently draw over-simplified black and white conclusions. In my view, they are not only inaccurate, but also miss the key points that underlie this important issue.

If the assertions of the writer are correct, then the reason why women do not rise to top positions in many areas of the financial markets is nothing more than a massive chauvinist conspiracy. I have no doubt that there are still a number of men who have such an agenda, but I think most women would agree that the majority of their male colleagues are not of this ilk, and that chauvinistic attitudes and behaviour have decreased significantly with each passing generation.

Conversely, it is my experience (and I suspect that of most of your readers), that bitching, backstabbing, ganging up and bullying are often acts perpetrated by women, rather than by men. It is likely therefore that the glowing portrait painted of women in this article will not ring true in the minds of many who read it. In my opinion, many female readers would certainly not view the idea of an all-women investment bank as an Utopian model for the future, but will rather recoil at the very idea, viewing it more as a investment banking equivalent to Prisoner Cell Block H ! The point is that women can, and do, behave as badly as men if placed in a similar environment.

So if there is no chauvinist conspiracy blocking womankind's righteous path to the top in big business, then what has? As a previous contributor alluded, a major reason for women not occupying such positions is that they simply don't want to. And why would they ? As has been pointed out, it is a dog-eat-dog world at the top, meaning that anyone inhabiting that space, male or female, must possess those odious qualities necessary to reach such heights. Due to their greater emotional and instinctive sophistication, most women simply do not want to take part is such distasteful pursuits. And I, for one, don't see why women should hold-out these top positions to signify some kind of aspirational benchmark on which to measure individual success or worth in any case. Real women are by nature more able to create happiness through other lifestyle choices in a way that men (and female equivalents) are not.

It has always been my opinion that a rather sad fate awaits most men in that we lose our childhood sensitivities to take up the mantle of being 'a man' by being compelled to join the rat race to fulfil the role of provider that we are instinctively and culturally compelled to do. If most of us had a choice between suffering the dehumanising affects and risks of taking on such a role, or retaining our humanity in more fulfilling life-affirming ways, then we would. There is nothing glamorous about this predicament, and in many cases it leads to personal unhappiness throughout life for many men. Indeed if it wasn't for the civilising affect of a loving woman and family, such men might never experience true happiness at all.

It is bad enough that men are generally expected to give up their souls to succeed, without people like your contributor encouraging the better half of society to 'claw their way to the top', and into the same trap. If all women are brutalised to the point where they are able to behave like men, then we are all in for a great deal of trouble.

I'm glad to see today that a growing number of modern women are beginning to regain a more real sense of identity and empowerment by embracing, rather than lamenting their femininity. Long may this continue, as this will make the world a better place.

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Women Aren't Made To Get To The Top

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