banking

Pippa

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This is an example of administrative sexism… I recently incorporated my company and am so proud to have founded a consultancy business in a male dominated industry. All going well and then I applied for a business bank account with one of the leading high street banks – one that prides themselves on being one of the top 50 companies for female employees in the UK and has loads of inclusion and diversity policies. The first letter I received began, “Dear Sirs…”! The assumption being that businesses are only started by men?!? Its so outdated. It is only the 2nd incident of sexism that I have encountered in 20 years but I would have expected better and it took the wind out of my sails. No organisation has the right to do that.

Victoria

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I’m an assistant manager in a bank, assisting customers with transactions & account servicing and supervising a team of 10. I can’t count how many times I’ve had a customer, usually male, tells me to smile. I have never, not even once, seen or heard any customer say the same thing to any of my male associates. I’ve also had both male & female customers refuse to speak with me about loans, instead deferring to one of my male associates. Then they are suddenly surprised when an associate calls me over to answer a question or clarify a policy or procedure.

Juliet

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I was looking forward to opening my new current account – with M&S. That is until I received the debit card in the post today. It has a picture on it, or several small images. One of them – and the biggest and most prominent – is of a pair of women’s bare legs in high heels. These legs go up and end in a image of a tea cup. I am shocked that in the 21st Century, a bank’s bid to be modern and groovy (by not using plain corporate-looking cards) actually ends up delivering the same old sexist rubbish. I have phoned the bank to ask for a replacement plain card and I have been told that I can’t one. I have made a formal complaint, but doubt that will make any difference. I am going to cancel this account before I have even used it. And I would like to spread the word and shame them. thanks for reading.

Mary

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I am an American woman, married to an American man, now living in France (moved here 7 months ago). Ever since I started doing paperwork related to anything French about 9 years ago when we bought a home here, I’ve been amazed at how often the documents do not allow me to use my actual name. I didn’t take my husband’s last name when we married 20 years ago, and the majority of official joint paperwork here only allows for Mr. and Mrs. _____. It means that oftentimes my name cannot be on utility bills, as well, because they will only take one last name, not two.