Latham & Watkins’ Women Enriching Business (WEB) programme has caused a stir after arranging a canapé-making evening for its members.
One source who received the invite for the event, which takes place on 31 May, said: “I almost fell off my chair laughing when I received an invitation to the ’Women Enriching Business Group’ and it’s master class on ’creative canapé making’.
“It’s wrong on so many levels.”
According to Latham’s website, WEB is a two-pronged initiative, “designed to promote women in business, by creating broader networks and productive business relationships, and by attracting and investing in the long-term success of women”. Its goals include addressing the interests that clients have in working with a more diverse team and increasing the visibility of a variety of role models.
One partner who oversees gender initiatives at another law firm said: “You do come across events for women that are based around going to places like LK Bennett and Molton Brown from time to time, but my natural instinct is that it’s selling women short.
“Also, you’re not making the most of an opportunity to say something that’s a bit more progressive. But, on the other hand, there’s part of me that thinks that it’s better than nothing.”
Ruth Grant, partner and co-chair of Hogan Lovells’ Worldwide diversity committee, said of WEB’s latest event: “At first you might think, “oh, gosh”, but actually I suspect that a lot of people would really enjoy it. A little while ago we ran a chocolate-making evening and it was very popular.
“You have to look beyond the pure diversity perspective and ask: what will people like? Will it be fun? Personally, I might try to find a gender-neutral activity, but I don’t think it’s a big deal.”
The news comes shortly after Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer made national news in March for celebrating International Women’s Day with a ’Bake Off’. Both male and female staff were asked to make cakes and bring them into work as part of a baking competition for charity.
Yesterday, The Times published its Top 50 Employers for Women, produced in partnership with Opportunity Now, with four law firms making the list: Addleshaw Goddard, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Eversheds and Hogan Lovells.
Latham & Watkins did not respond in time for comment.
Readers' comments (25)
Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 1:10 pm
Whatever is arranged for people with these views it will never be good enough. God forbid that they would actually enjoy themselves and appreciate the effort others had put into organising such events in the first place. Then again are these the sort of people whose values we hold dear and would wish to network with in the first place. It's what gives us women a bad name in the first place. I''d love to know what they would have rather have done!
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James Watthey | 20-Apr-2012 1:16 pm
Isn't food preparation a gender neutral activity?
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Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 1:45 pm
If we strip out every possible activity that could cause offence, then the only thing left is 'people sitting in a circle on chairs in a grey room with no props or activity, dressed conservatively with no fashion impetus, appreciating and respecting each other's diversity (silently, in case a poorly verbalised thought causes offence).
NB: You're not allowed to have fun in the world of diversity - too much potential for trouble. Respectful soulless neutrality only. Oh God, I've implied the existence of a 'soul' and just blasphemed, offending the atheists and religious at the same time.
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Litigateuse | 20-Apr-2012 2:09 pm
Agreed James, I know a number of men as well as women who would be interested in this. It wouldn't do anything for me (I am female but don't like to cook) but I don't see what the problem is. Nor does the article actually explain who Lathams is apparently "under fire" from - just one invitee who perhaps has a chip on their shoulder or hasn't moved into the 21st century yet (anyone heard of Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal....)?
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Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 2:19 pm
The best way to enrich women would be to have more female partners. Oh wait, no, let's just carry on with this mere fluff and teach them how to make canapés.
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Female lawyer | 20-Apr-2012 2:26 pm
Interesting that the vast majority of top chefs, as seen on many popular TV programmes, are men, yet cooking is often seen as a female activity. I think the problem is that if it is gender neutral, why does it need to be part of a women's networking event rather than done as part of the firm's mainstream events. Presumably becasue it is assumed that women are more likely to be interested than men.
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Divine Cakes | 20-Apr-2012 2:45 pm
The Freshfields cake bake raised over £10,000 - why not focus on that rather than some illusory/pathetic/retrograde dig
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Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 3:11 pm
Guess this has put paid to our follow-up knitting event then.
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George Whitebread | 20-Apr-2012 3:31 pm
That's very interesting, luv. Now could you make us a cuppa tea?
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Emily Pankhurst | 20-Apr-2012 3:57 pm
One source who received the invite for the event, which takes place on 31 May, said: “I almost fell off my chair laughing when I received an invitation to the ’Women Enriching Business Group’ and it’s master class on ’creative canapé making’.
Now read:
One source who received the invite for the event, which takes place on 31 May, said: “I almost fell off my chair laughing when I received an invitation to the ’Women Enriching Business Group’ and it’s master class on ‘car maintenance for beginners’, how bloody patronising, suggesting women can’t mend cars.”
You just can’t win with these people.
Well done L&W for trying. As a woman, I appreciate the effort.
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