Not being taken seriously? No Victims Allowed!

I recently tested two women for a Corporate Accounting Manager job for a private equity firm that owns several companies. Both were soundly qualified and made a credible interview impression. However, when I asked each one about their weaknesses and how they deal with them, they both cited experiences of not being taken seriously because of being women, particularly in male dominated industries. One mentioned that she is short in stature which may have added to the problem. One was in her early 30’s and the pother in her late 30’s. Each noted at least one other weakness, but it was surprising to me that being female was mentioned by either one of them as a personal shortcoming per se. That said, it must have felt real for them, but more from the standpoint of being a physical disability or handicap.
 
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