Is Aussie banking still a man's world?

4 June 2008

1 minute read

Are Aussie women failing to make their mark in banking because finance is still a man's world?

A "blokey" or "boys' club" culture prevails in Australian firms, according to a study based on employee interviews at 13 top companies, including finance giants AMP, CBA, Macquarie, Insurance Australian Group, St George and Westpac.

Women in Management: The Leadership Debate, written by Monash University's Hannah Pitman, paints a testosterone-fuelled picture of the Aussie workplace.

Pitman rants: "Communication and decision-making styles attributed to women, such as being inclusive and collegial, are seen as incompatible with desired leadership traits of decisiveness and expediency."

The senior females interviewed, above half of whom work in financial services, complain of exclusion and bullying by male colleagues. The men, meanwhile, are threatened by female success.

Is the glass ceiling closing in on women bankers? Are the best banking jobs still for the boys? Sheilas, speak out below.

AUTHOReFinancialCareers Australia

Insider Comment

Ci
City Girl
6 June 2008
As a senior manager in an investment bank in London I see the male culture in my particular firm very hostile and full of Sh*t, the guys arnt the smartest, but they are bulshy and do deals at the pub... My last major investment bank role was with a swiss bank that did value diversity, it made a huge difference... All in all its a very hard place to play in...
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de
devilsadvocate
6 June 2008
@ girlpower - No one said you CAN'T, just that it is ridiculously difficult once you reach the upper levels
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pc
pc
6 June 2008
try being gay in banking!! even worse
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Ha
Hamilton
6 June 2008
"inclusive and colleguial" doesn't really describe the women i work with. try power b**ches, giving as good as they take - and more
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Ev
Eva
6 June 2008
Think firms actually want to hire more women..give it ten years and teh more even gender split will spell the end of the macho culture we have now
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