Related News
Women in finance feel over-looked even if put career above kids
Source: Agencies |
June 8, 2010, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
MOST women working in the financial sector feel overlooked, underpaid and under-represented at executive level -- even if they have chosen not to have children for their career, according to an Australian survey.
The survey of 817 male and women finance industry professionals, by the Financial Services Institute of Australia, found 85 percent of women believed there was a gender divide within financial services.
A total of 84 percent of women finance professionals agreed that "even women who chose not to have children were underutilised in the senior ranks".
Their male colleagues, however, had a different view.
The survey found 58 percent of men did not think there was a gender divide within financial services and only 28 percent said women who chose a career over children were underutilised.
But more than half of the men questioned agreed with the majority of women that most females who took time out of the workforce due to caring responsibilities were forced to trade promotion for flexibility.
Institute chief Martin Fahy said the survey findings reflected that while measures such as child care support and flexible work options would help lift the levels of female participation in the industry, "cultural barriers go to the heart of the gender divide".
"Considering women make up over half of Australia's population and legislation has supported equal rights for many years now, the only way to explain the lack of women occupying leadership roles is a common bias at executive management level toward men," Fahy said in a statement.
"This reflects either a significant perception gap or just plain old complacency, with little desire to enforce gender equality both in principle and practice."
The survey of 817 male and women finance industry professionals, by the Financial Services Institute of Australia, found 85 percent of women believed there was a gender divide within financial services.
A total of 84 percent of women finance professionals agreed that "even women who chose not to have children were underutilised in the senior ranks".
Their male colleagues, however, had a different view.
The survey found 58 percent of men did not think there was a gender divide within financial services and only 28 percent said women who chose a career over children were underutilised.
But more than half of the men questioned agreed with the majority of women that most females who took time out of the workforce due to caring responsibilities were forced to trade promotion for flexibility.
Institute chief Martin Fahy said the survey findings reflected that while measures such as child care support and flexible work options would help lift the levels of female participation in the industry, "cultural barriers go to the heart of the gender divide".
"Considering women make up over half of Australia's population and legislation has supported equal rights for many years now, the only way to explain the lack of women occupying leadership roles is a common bias at executive management level toward men," Fahy said in a statement.
"This reflects either a significant perception gap or just plain old complacency, with little desire to enforce gender equality both in principle and practice."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
