I recently read a book which defines itself as “a string of stories and revelations from the country’s foremost banking journalist about the industry”.
Set against the backdrop of the Indian banking industry, spanning a veritable timeline from the 1990s to the 2020s, it’s a book I was looking forward to. What stories will it hold, what personality quirks will it unravel, I wondered, as I embarked upon the journey.
It ended up being a book by a man about men, probably for men. That too in an industry where we have a good many women in senior positions.
The only women referenced were either side actors (spouses) or very bad actors (the super corrupt).
But, surely. If someone were to pick this book up a hundred years down the line, they would think we had no women or just evil women in our banking industry, and that’s far from the truth, I mulled.
No no, the author has written so much on women in banking, someone said, sharing a zillion links of unrelated articles by the said author.
Now, here’s the disconnect and that brings me to the topic of discussion for today.
The author writing a specific column about “women in banking” doesn’t absolve him from not writing about women in banking in a book about banking.
It’s exactly the same as having panels and panels of men talking about the future of tech and future of banking and macroeconomic health and whatever other cool stuff we believe only men know.
While…
The women are brought in for the women’s day panels. “How can we increase female participation in the tech industry?” And “What do you think plagues women from moving up in the banking industry”.
If I took the liberty to extrapolate this a bit more, it is the same as getting a bunch of men to build products for whole populations while “hey we have women in support roles across the company, don’t we, so why are you cribbing”.
It isn’t about the tick marks. It is about the relevance.
So, what can you do, when you come across a situation next time which is completely devoid of women?
Ponder. Broadly and deeply. Are there truly no women who can be part of this panel? Were there no women worthy of a mention in this story about an industry or a company?
Question. Curiously. Strongly. From first principles. Really? Ask ‘really’?
Suggest. If you are knowledgeable about the subject, throw some options in. What about A? Why not S?
Most importantly. Don’t assume. Don’t assume that the author knows best, that the panel curator knows best, that the recruiter knows best.
Assuming that status quo is absolutely perfect (and that applies to more than this article) is the biggest disservice you would be doing to humankind.
For, as more the centuries turn, more the endeavour that we become a better society, a better people.
P. S. In case you are a curious cat wanting to know more about the book I reference in the article, here’s a link to a detailed review from me.
P. P. S. Views, as always, strictly personal.
The questions about representation being directed towards women like it is our responsibility alone to change the system!
Thank you for writing this!!