Lack of women in capitalism?

I found this article and video clip while I was browsing around the web the other day and thought it was interesting. The article, by Chrystia Freeland, is about the lack of women in capitalism today and the possible reasons behind it. Women make up such a large percentage of the U.S. population and yet they are underrepresented in areas where money and power reside. Yes, the video clip mentions that many are calling this the "age of women" because of the recent Kagan Confirmation Hearings and the overall spike in women being elected to political offices. However, I am still not okay with that fact that women in general fall far behind men in the economic world.

The fact is that industries at the heights of capitalism are occupied almost exclusively by men. There are only 14 self-made female billionaires in the entire world. I, like Freeland, find an issue with this fact and believe that we need to do whatever it takes to change these numbers so men and women are equally represented. Women should be viewed as powerful, successful and intelligent. Women are just as capable as men and nothing really can hold us back.

So let's forget the so called “reasons” people have come up with to help explain the lack of females in capitalism which Freeland refers to in her article. Larry Summers thinks it is because of the genetic mean. Others, blame women’s lack of testosterone. Let’s look at the women who have made great accomplishments in the economic world and encourage the younger female generation to pursue careers in technology and engineering, fields in which the majority of Venture Capital is being invested. If the number of women with academic backgrounds in engineering, computer science or biotechnology increases over the next few years women will quickly become more powerful in the capital world.

The good news is that things are already starting to change as women entrepreneurs are among the faster growing group of business owners. As we gain more experience in high-tech world and develop concrete business networks we gain more revenues and profit. I am confident that soon women will be more equally represented as our entrepreneurial drive is equivalent to that of males and studies by Illuminate Ventures reflect that we are have proven to be more capital-efficient when building companies.

I look forward to the days when women are viewed as a major power force in capitalism. With money comes power and with more women in control I believe that the world could change for the better, economically, socially and environmentally.