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Oh dear. Quentin Bryce is worried that there are not enough women on the boards of major companies. "I believe the old boys' network is a powerful one." Ms Bryce told the Age newspaper ('Luvvies' sex quota, The West, Paul Murray, 12 Mar 11).
Quentin Bryce -- for those who don't follow politics -- is the current Australian governor general, and female, and a former sex discrimination commissioner. Add international women's day and getting more women amongst the overpaid industrial fat cats is an obvious topic for dodgy declarations.
Has anyone counted the number of non-white fat cats? Or non-white G-Gs, for that matter. What about gay and lesbian fat cats? Or fat cats in wheel chairs, or blind, or illiterate? Surely all of these marginalised minorities deserve their place at the trough.
Does Bryce really think that the old boys sit round and say, "All right... we'll give some power to the niggers and the chinks. But we don't want the women!" (with apologies to Blazing Saddles -- and to anyone else who is offended).
No.
The thing about an old boys' network is not just that they are old boys. It's that they are a group of people who know each other, who perhaps went to school together and who give each other positions of power and privilege. Or, perhaps, who give each other support.
You know: friends.
Old boys know each other and support each other. As a corollary, they do not support people that they do not know. You went to the wrong school? Sorry, no room on the board. Your family don't know my family? Sorry, no promotion for you. You are not in my social clique? Sorry, no trough space for you.
What's the best way to get a job? It's to know someone who can give you a job. As simple as that.
Have you ever tried to jump the queue to get into a crowded Northbridge nightclub? It only works if you're in the right network... and that network is not for "old boys"! The principle, however, is exactly the same.
The old boys' networks -- and there are many of them -- are support groups. It is not bias against, it is bias in favour. If you are "in" the group, you get the support. Otherwise... tough. Ability and experience will get you only so far.
It would be nice if power and privilege went to people with ability... Sometimes it happens... Being a member of the network is more useful.
Bryce may be building her own network by supporting the very small number of women who are qualified to be board members. That's her right, her opinion, her prejudice.
Meanwhile, she is overlooking the reality.
"Old boys' networks" may keep people away from the trough. So do "old girls' networks" and "the old school tie" and "family connections" and "I may know someone who can help".
Life is just not fair.
And when we can actually define and measure the qualities which make one person more suited to a job than anyone else -- then it may be time to select on ability. Rather than using the short cut of selecting from within your own network.
Agamedes Consulting. Support for your thought: email nick leth at gmail dot com |
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