India’s GDP will go up by 60 per
cent if women are treated at par:
R M Vishakha
Deep-rooted bias and clichés against women employees persist
I
customer service executive
ndia could actually
with a male name, there
increase GDP by
is better acceptance when
up to 60 per cent if
compared to a customer
women participate
service executive with a
in the economy at par
female name.”
with men, according to R
M Vishakha MD & CEO,
Things changing slowly
IndiaFirst Life Insurance.
But things were slowly
India’s GDP for 2017 was
changing she felt. “Have
over $2.4 trillion.
a look at Alexa or Siri or
Speaking at the
the IndiaFirst chatbot
Outlook Money Conclave
IRIS. Technology has
2018 on clichés about
acknowledged and very often
women and the deep-
used women as a reference
rooted bias that existed
Importance of Gender Diversity in Financial Services: RM Vishakha,
to showcase warmth and
in society, Vishakha said
MD & CEO, IndiaFirst Life Insurance on why there are fewer
assistance of a brand
that the most common
women in senior positions in corporate India
towards their customers.”
roles offered to women in
However, for every
organisations were that
instance of bias, there were
of an HR director or the head of
if it’s a crime to have an identity for
organisations that believed in their
corporate communication.
yourself. Not that things have not
women employees. “The ICICI
”The usual clichés used for a
changed, but the biggest challenge
group had leaders who believed in
woman are submissive, nagging,
has been societal conditioning.
women. Public sector banks did a
finicky, dramatic, controlling
For every woman who cannot lift
very good job of nurturing women,”
arithmophobic,” she said adding that
weights, there is a Malleshwari who
she observed.
use of abusive language to be seen as
can do so.”
On the manner in which women
effective was not on.
Elaborating further, she said
dealt with crisis situations, she said:
“When a man uses abusive
there are very few women at the top
“Women are better when it comes
language, he is seen as effective, but
level in the BFSI sector. The biggest
to dealing with financial crises that
a woman loses stature when she
detriment to all of it is our own
institutions face. They find a way and
does the same. When I became the
belief besides society’s conditioning.
learn to deal with situations, which
sales head, I told my team mates I
Vishakha referred to instances
may not always be in their control
will not tolerate abuse. Women have
when she was told by prospective
as well. They are comfortable with
demonstrated their ability to get
employers how they did not hire
chaos and are born influencers.”
things done without resorting to bad
women in childbearing age groups
However, qualities such as
language,” she felt.
when she was 29 years old, and at
potential, talent, promise - just as
Providing several instances of
49, another large corporate told her
shortcomings - were unisex and
the strong but subtle biases against
that she could be a distraction to the
unique to individuals, Vishakha
women in the banking, financial
board of directors.
summed up.
services and insurance (BFSI) sector,
On societal conditioning, she
she said “Society makes you feel as
said: “When there’s a response from
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