If you thought workplace gender equality had improved in recent years, the sexist rules for female accountants at Ernst & Young’s ‘empowerment’ seminar should suitably rain on your parade.
Earlier this week, HuffPost reported on a leadership and empowerment seminar for staff members at accounting firm Ernst & Young that took place last June. Sounds like your stock standard training conference, right? Nope.
During the half-day workshop, attendees were ‘treated’ to a 55-page presentation focused on “how women need to fix themselves to fit into a male-dominated workplace” called ‘Power-Presence-Purpose’ or PPP.
Ironically, the seminar took place at the peak of last year’s Me Too movement and hot off the back of Ernst & Young’s very own sexual assault accusations. Instead of actually empowering women in the workplace, PPP dished out unbelievable ‘advice’ to women as to how they should speak, act and even dress.
According to HuffPost, one part of the presentation was focused on appearance and advised the female attendees to be “polished,” have a “good haircut, manicured nails, well-cut attire that complements your body type.” It also warned, “don’t flaunt your body – sexuality scrambles the mind (for men and women).”
Later, the presentation listed ‘Invisible Rules’ of communication, suggesting women often “ramble and miss the point” in meetings whereas men “speak at length – because he really believes in his idea.”
Prior to the workshop, women filled out a ‘Masculine/Feminine Score Sheet’ that listed feminine traits as “affectionate, gullible, shy, soft-spoken, yielding” and masculine traits as “aggressive, athletic, independent, self-sufficient.”
The PPP training also advised women to never “directly confront men in meetings, cross your legs and sit at an angle,” and “don’t be too aggressive or outspoken.”
One of the most shocking quotes to come out of the whole workshop was, “women’s brains absorb information like pancakes soak up syrup so it’s hard for them to focus…Men’s brains are more like waffles. They’re better able to focus because the information collects in each little waffle square.” Wow.
When HuffPost asked Ernst & Young about the training, they said it was “no longer offered in its current form” and was offered by “an external vendor.” The report even detailed various employees that backed the course and one senior executive called it “the most impactful leadership program that I have ever had the opportunity to participate in.”
It’s pretty hard to believe there are staff members (and female ones, in particular) that could agree with this kind of blatantly sexist rhetoric. We’re living in 2019 – businesses simply need to do better than this.