Story 109
Another Asia story :
Whilst we perceive Asia to be conservative, it is far worse than the West. Regressive men, patriarchal mindset – it reeks. Men retort to nastiness and passive aggression to put women down. I am referring to some Indian men in Private Banking in a financial hub in Asia (outside India)
They possess barely half the competence many women would be expected to demonstrate, yet take pride in belittling or mistreating women.
In fact, I heard one say – I don’t get treated right by my wife at home hence I take my frustration out on the women I work with at the workplace since it helps satisfy my male ego. I acknowledge the issue but system lets me get away with it.
The Indian men in Private Banking have particularly notorious reputations. They expect sexual favours, speak over women, bully women, objectify them, harass them and act entitled as though it is their birth right. You challenge the status quo, your career is finished. You are put in a box and labelled ‘trouble’
So many Private Banking Business heads from Asia after being caught for compliance malpractices, misbehaviour against opposite sex have left Asia and now conveniently lead businesses in the Middle East. No accountability.
Asia is often described as culturally patriarchal, but within Private Banking the power imbalance operates at an entirely different level. Although regulatory mechanisms exist in name, reporting misconduct leads nowhere. Authorities are deeply invested in preserving the region’s reputation as a flawless global financial hub. In doing so, they work in quiet alignment with financial institutions to contain or suppress allegations and cases before they come to light or can disrupt the narrative. Harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct therefore remain widespread but seldom reported from this part of the world.