Griffin: Gendering Global Finance: Crisis, Masculinity, and Responsibility

What was most striking about the article and why?

For me, the Approach 3 (the Behavioral Approach/ Behavioral Weaknesses) was most striking about this article. When studying psychology, I have learned about the differences in hormones between men and women, however I never knew that this could be used as a way of discrimination against the female gender. This idea of “sexed bodies as potentially problematic” (Griffin, 24) is new to me. After reading this article, I learned that some people actually do use hormone levels as a way of looking at fault in the financial sector. This continues to strike me today because it just adds to another reason why women are seen as unequal, and even below, men.

How did it change my world view?

In this article, Griffin states 4 different approaches for understanding responsibility in terms of the global financial crisis today. The first three approaches that she presents are already existing approaches that, in her opinion, are failing. The fourth approach is one that she comes up with, which incorporates a social context, such as women and gender inequalities in the workforce. I have never thought about gender in relation to the financial crisis before reading this article. Griffin’s explanations of why the other approaches are failing really expanded my view on the financial crisis and made me more aware of the gender inequalities that are continuously existing. From now on, when I talk about finance and the financial crises, I will be able to talk about masculinization and its effect on the society.