The representation of women in the finance world globally and the Stimulus

Captain_Nemo

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Thu Feb-12-09 12:42 AM
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The representation of women in the finance world globally and the Stimulus

Reading these two articles today was interesting, to say the least.

Early today I read this:
"In Banking Crisis, Guys Get the Blame
More Women Needed In Top Jobs, Critics Say"

Excerpt below:
"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.
Iceland is leading the way. Since its humiliating economic collapse, the island nation in the North Atlantic has turned over key levers of finance to women. It now has a female prime minister, and women lead two of its major banks, replacing men who were blamed for crashing the institutions with reckless excess.
Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir, 66, has vowed to exercise "prudence and responsibility" in government as she cleans up the male-dominated system that sank the national economy.
"Men, especially young men, made a mess of things," said Kristjan Kristjansson, the prime minister's spokesman. "There is a strong discussion that women would have taken a more cautious approach in the financial sector."
"You could call the financial sector almost like a men's club," he added."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021002398_pf.html

Then, someone just sent me this:

"No Female Senators or Representatives from Congress are on Stimulus Bill Conference Committee"
Senate Democratic leadership has announced who will be serving on the conference committee to iron out differences in the House and Senate versions of the stimulus bill.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont.
Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii
Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran, R-Miss.
Both Finance and Appropriations were heavily involved in the creation of the Senate version, with each committee holding markups on their portions.

And for the House:

Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, D-Wis.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif.
Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.
Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp, R-Mich.

This is what it means to not have a critical mass, to have less than 25% of your constituency represented. Only 17% of all congressional members are female. And so, with five from the Senate (5% of the Senate) and 5 from the House (just over 1%), what chance do women get to be selected for these critical reconciliation meetings."

http://themoderatevoice.com/26383/no-female-senators-or-representatives-from-congress-are-on-stimulus-bill-conference-committee/