Bank on brains, not beauty

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I received a flyer at my office from Proven Wealth which had a picture of Chorvelle Johnson, CEO, hands folded in front of her, with a bright warm smile. The caption read 'Beauty and Brains', the perfect investment package.

I was offended by the caption which accompanied the display. I felt as if the combination of the words and the pictures placed Ms Johnson physically and mentally on an auction block for potential investors to assess.

As I gazed at the beaming Ms Johnson, I wondered why the heck her beauty should impact my investment decision. If she had a competitor who looked like a horse but would make me tons of money, I can assure you, I would be going to the competitor.

The depiction is sexist. We are long past the days when a woman's beauty should be factored into whether or not she is suitable for a job (that of handling my investment). It's a pity that Ms Johnson allowed herself to be subjected to such a display, for her beauty to become part of what Proven Wealth is offering to investors and not just her brains.

Show me the money, Ms Johnson, and you will get my dollars, your beauty be damned.

SHENA ROBINSON