Why is Sales Such a Male Dominated Profession?

[joe90]

Women are everywhere. Pretty much 50/50 ration with men. Women are natural sales people, learning to communicate and wear make up, and high heels, while guys are learning to be stronger, faster, fitter, and punch things. Brute force is always an option for a guy. Communication and relationships are the spine of how women move through this world.

Now I dont want to sound sexist, so absolutely there are guys who rely and were brought up to be communicators, artists, diplomats, and likewise there are women who were brought up, and chose to be excellent sports women, and even just cold hearted ultra professional goal chasing bull dozers.

There is also cross over. Guys have to learn to relate to their peers for friendship and eventually girls too for relationships. Women are an invaluable part of the work force, and are supposedly stronger emotionally than men... so its taking us back to the central point.

Why is sales such a male dominated profession?

Women are arguably the great communicators and sellers out of the two genders, - generically.

Guys arguably have a testosterone gilded edge, when it comes to bold confidence, but who is more confident than a confident girl socially?

This isnt an appeal to sexism. Quite the opposite. Women whether seen as the same or different, are equals in the work place, but not in numbers, or representation in sales?

Why?

 

[Rearden]

Who cares?

Some will, some won't, so what.

Much depends on the industry.

Pharma probably has a lot of women salespeople (IE professional caterers).

 

[joe90]

Who cares?

Some will, some won't, so what.

Much depends on the industry.

Pharma probably has a lot of women salespeople (IE professional caterers).

I believe in meritocracy. Its just interesting. We watch sales movies, like glengarry glenross, and wolf of wall street, and boiler room, etc etc etc. all guys. Where I work, pretty much all guys. The women that are there are very good, but its just interesting.

I think rejection might have something to do with it. Maybe guys handle rejection better...

 

[PaperHanger]

Re watch Glenn Gary, it takes Brass Balls

;-)

That said, most tech recruiters and pharmaceutical sales are hot women

 

[DHK]

Because it takes a certain internal strength and fortitude to tell (advise) someone, especially other men & business owners, what to do with their money. It's a leadership principle.

I'm not saying that women can't or don't do it. I know some very strong and assertive women in this industry. But when it comes to dealing with people's money, you definitely can't "flirt" your way to a good client relationship. You might get a good sale... but not necessarily the advisor/client relationship you want.

All of this is based on stereotypes, but that seems to be what this thread is about.

 

[joe90]

Because it takes a certain internal strength and fortitude to tell (advise) someone, especially other men & business owners, what to do with their money. It's a leadership principle.

I'm not saying that women can't or don't do it. I know some very strong and assertive women in this industry. But when it comes to dealing with people's money, you definitely can't "flirt" your way to a good client relationship. You might get a good sale... but not necessarily the advisor/client relationship you want.

All of this is based on stereotypes, but that seems to be what this thread is about.

i think gender roles go beyond stereotypes. but part of it is the perception of the customer as well. ive listened in to women calling guys, and laughed at the difference between how the call goes, and how the call would have gone if id been making it. lots of friendly guys leading them up to the point of sale and then refusing to buy. it would piss me off.

 

[LifeWorth]

Because it takes brass balls to sell real estate.

 

[PaperHanger]

That's timeshare real estate, most regular re sales are women, but a slim majority are old and frumpy with a gravely voice. ..

That said, my marriott time share visit with inlaws, the sales people were all women, but hard partiers whose looks were 10 or 15 years behind them

Now mortgage brokers and new subdivision sales...My last few of those were haute hot

 

[insuranceconceptscindy]

As a woman- here's what I think:

Women are awesome in emotional sales; healthcare, housing, retail, life insurance (to an extent) etc. Those kinds of products pull on an emotion- no one wants to be sick/injured, we have a plan to take care of you- warm and fuzzy.

I can sell emotional ALL DAY LONG. And I make a few bucks. It doesn't hurt to be cute/pretty/well dressed. I've straight up been told I got a sale on the way I look. Doesn't bother me a bit- as long as the check clears. . .

Here's where we get into challenges: Financial sales- where the big money lies. When we get into the financial sales arena- it becomes pretty black and white. There's not a lot of emotion in annuities and mutual funds. Although I know my stuff when it comes to life insurance and annuities, most men prefer to deal with other men for their financials. A lot of women also prefer men to handle their money. It's presumed that it will be safer.
Because I handle their emotional contracts, I must not qualified to handle their financial contracts. It's a crazy psychology, which I am working on overcoming.

The other thought I have as to why there isn't a lot of women in the industry is that it takes a specific kind of personality to be a sales person and business owner. You can't be too laid back, you have to be driven. Look at the women who are successful in the industry- we are all very similar in personality. Most women in sales are very Type A and can be on the aggressive side. Much like their male counterparts. This industry will chew up and spit out the meek.

 

[YouGotMyMoney]

because categorically women want the security of a 9-5 job.