Business Girls Personality

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 14

Business Girls Personality

a What Constitutes Elusive “It” d \. L

’ YVHAT’ s feminine personality, or “it,” t ” in business? To what extent does it ; count in determining success or failure? . The President of the Sydney Feminist I Club, Mrs. P. A. Cameron, acted recently i as one of the judges in a Business Girl Personality Contest. She found it a very difficult task to define the elusive quality. In this article Mrs. Cameron discusses in picturesque style the impressions she gleaned when tracking down this much-prized attribute. “The world is at the feet of any business girl combining brains with beauty,” is one of her conclusions. A business personality (says Mrs. Cameron) contest, however, is not a beauty contest. It requires something more than a pretty face. The three qualities which I would seek in my ideal female business personality are: (a) Distinction N person, (b) Charm of manner, (c) Intelligence with ability. “Distinction of Person” may be classed as physical beauty of face and form. In the 19th century a pretty girl stood out from all others, but in the 20th century, with all the aids to beauty available, every girl can be attractive in appearance. Individuality in dress, make-up, and permanent waves overcome all disadvantages. Though beauty is said to be only skin deep, its influence upon the world of business must not be under-rated. The world is at the feet of any business girl combining brains with beauty. “Charm of Manner.” Charm is that quality or characteristic which pleases and attracts those with whom one comes in contact. The question here arises: Has a business personality to connote what Arthur Rubinstein, visiting international pianist, so aptly describes as “that silly and crude expression, sexappeal,” or has this personality to reveal something deeper and wider, based on a foundation of good character? This type of charm must in my mind b disassociated from the other ingredier's, for, as Alexander Pope has said,

“Beauty charms the senses, merit wins the soul.” That the first suggestion has even to i. considered shows how far we have removed from the old conception of the business woman whose capability had to be expressed by mannish imitation. “Intelligence with Ability.” The price of an able, capable employee to an employci is above rubies. She may lack beauty and charm, but the business personality must be efficient. Here I am told by business women that the efficient woman is not wanted in the business world. The too-efficient woman creates an inferiority complex in the female staff she controls, and is not generally liked by the male seniors. 1 feel I am on safe ground when I class business personality as the possession of physical and mental distinction. This viewpoint again being endorsed by Arthur Rubinstein:— “Personality is like a great motor power within us. We all have it, but it is not very well understood. It is not necessarily beauty, but it is charm, appeal, intelligence, everything that goes to make up the loveliness of women.” Having now decided that personality is tl.- possession of physical and mental distinction, I have no hesitation in saying that the primary qualification of a business personality must be capability. Hasn’t genius been classed as an “infinite capacity for taking pains”? Whilst in business personality we do not need to look for genius, we must find ability. Ability may manifest itself in different ways, not only in doing one’s duty, in the daily task, the common round, but in one’s hobbies, be they physical or mental recreation. Consequently, it is necessary to take into consideration how leisure time is spent; whether in the public library

or on the playing fields. Each in their proper proportion is indicative of a sound mind in a sound body. In my considered opinion, women in business have loftier ideals and a higher moral business tone than men. They may be biologically inferior, but, believe it or not, the age of the matriach is coming—the age when women will take their proper place in industry. The time is rapidly approaching—if it is not already here—when women will be as well educated as men. And now, lastly, other things being equal, the ideal female business personality must have appeal to both sexes. It is frequently found that some women impress some men more favourably than other women. Yet those self-same worm are not popular with their own sex. This appears to be a paradox, but each eye forms its own standard of worth, and quite a lot of men, with due apologies, are more apt to be influenced by such unsubstantial qualities as beauty or an ingratiating manner. On the other hand, women are more discriminating. They look for more tangible evidence of female character and ability. Woman is woman’s severest critic, and any woman who is eighteen carat to her own sex will always command my respect. When one analyses the Hindu idea of how woman was created, one will readily understand that there will always be many types of female personality, business or otherwise. According to the legend, Twashtri (Vulcan of Hindu mythology) created the world. Upon commencing to create woman he discovered that for man he had

exhausted all his creative materials; that not one solid element had been left. This, of course, greatly perplexed Twashtri, and caused him to fall into a profound meditation, When he awoke he proceeded to create woman from the following elements:— j “The roundness of the moon. s “The undulating curve of the serpent. > “The graceful twist of the creeping plant. “The slenderness of the willow. "The velvet of the flowers. “The lightness of the feather. “The gentle gaze of the doe. “The frolicsomeness of the dancing sunbeam. “The inconsistency of the wind. “The tears of the cloud. "The timidity of the hare. “The vanity of the peacock. “The chill of the snow. “The hardness of the diamond. “The cruelty of the tiger. , “The cackling of the parrot. "The cooing of the turtle dove.” A Paris, nay, a Daniel, come to judgment, might well hesitate, therefore, in the selection of the ideal female business personality:— “The perfect woman nobly planned. To warn, to comfort, and command, And yet a spirit still and bright, With something of an angel light.” Dainty Jewellery. Flowers made of porcelain make appropriate summer jewellery. They are dainty and not so fragile as they appear and can be had in the natural colours of the flowers or in pastel shades. White porcelain “jewels,” which include clips for the ears as well as necklets and bracelets, are delightfully cool looking with black linen or navy blue. aiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiriiiiitiniiiiHiiiiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHtiiitiiiiiiiiiiii