Why are there so few girls taking the CFA exams?

[Wendy]

@ohai

I think it’s because women are risk averse. It’s not that women do not do things that are academically difficult - medicine, law, biology, or even college in general are over represented with women.

The specific fields above are hard, but the path and payout are predictable, and that is what women like. To a certain extent, these are also subjects where hard work leads to a high success rate…

It’s a good point. CPA reliably leads to an accounting career. MD leads to a career as a doctor. CFA leads to ???

[TheLakeHouse]

@Wendy

CFA leads to ???

…to a life that you are Consistently Forever Alone …

[el_macca17]

@Wendy

@ohai

I think it’s because women are risk averse. It’s not that women do not do things that are academically difficult - medicine, law, biology, or even college in general are over represented with women.

The specific fields above are hard, but the path and payout are predictable, and that is what women like. To a certain extent, these are also subjects where hard work leads to a high success rate…

It’s a good point. CPA reliably leads to an accounting career. MD leads to a career as a doctor. CFA leads to ???

It’s true. Girlfriends can do DCF analyses without studying the CFA.

[persistentmind]

I think the biggest factor is that it takes so much of your time in your late 20s-early 30s to do the program. Also, once you get your charter, it usually means that you’re willing to grind for a few years minimum after at work. This just isn’t appealing to as many women compared to men.

Also noticed the number of women falling off in prep courses as you go through the levels.