Ads make strides in showing women as influencers

In the August 1999 edition of the JofA, my letter to the editor was published under the header “Ads Neglect Women,” JofA, Aug. 1999. That letter was written in reaction to what I saw in the January 1999 issue, which was filled with ads showing only men in positions of influence. Apparently, the advertisers at that time felt that men were the movers and shakers in the accounting industry.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I expected things to change after I submitted the letter. I just felt that women deserved equal respect for what they bring to the table.

Fast forward almost 20 years, as I recently picked up the August 2017 issue. Was there a difference? In a word … yes! From the confident-looking woman in the ad on page 2 to the professional woman on the inside of the back cover, it was clear. Women are now receiving the respect they deserve from advertisers as people of influence in the accounting industry.

Has the American culture corrected for all of the inequalities between men and women in the workplace? No. However, I am encouraged to see this progress. It gives me hope for the young women now entering the profession. They will be better positioned not only to be a part of the accounting industry, but also to make a difference through their work as accounting professionals.

— Ruth Jorritsma, CPA
Bismarck, N.D.