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This comes from 5+ years of work at a top tier firm in Mumbai (where this was mostly the case) and a top tier firm in Bangalore (where teams run by women were all toxic, and teams under men were all but one, healthily managed).
I understand this doesnt extend to other spheres where i have seen women being better at managing things. But law firms def have this skew from my experience, and i want to see if its true across firms, and if so why?
This is not unique to law, it happens in other professions as well. Some women have written about it as well - look up.
Ofc this might be a very new development and only post the metoo era and with men understanding that sexist outlooks are not only outdated but can also gut their own careers.
Men on the other hand who become partners ive seen have a sense of humour, and dont fret over little things, dont micromanage etc. Like 90% of them are very easy to deal with, some are intimidating but still not toxic.
There are exceptions, some men are also v insecure and not very masculine or give off the same topper didi energy. I know one such male partner in 3L BLR.
Second, women are not taken as seriously as men and have to put up a rude farce to get that, if they are calm and happy to everyone they are taken for granted.
I work at a T2 boutique in Mumbai which is famous for being a female driven firm (i think we have like 83% women staff or something). We have 4 partners, 3 of them are women. These 3 women have made life hell for everyone, the non-stop shouting and yelling at every little thing, their random whimsical nature, that mean girl attitude, honestly it's very difficult to stick around here, no wonder we have such a great attrition rate. I have worked with male seniors too in my previous firms but comparatively they're way more relaxed and easy to work with.
Ive worked with 1 male partner who was an absolute delight. A friend, confidante, mentor and an inspiration.
1 female partner - the devil herself. 100% fit to that rich sociopath trope, with the fake laugh and the lack of recognition of others as equal human beings, the works.
2 male midlevels - one intense, one laidback. Both smart and capable and sincere with work and both very mature and calm and well spoken and not in the least toxic.
3 female midlevels - two manipulative fake ass bullies, one chill and fun one. Never felt like taking the chill one for granted, in fact worked several late nights and even all nighters on a deal with her, and looking back it was more fun than stressful. As for the other two, wish they dropped one fine day and id never have to see them again.
Thats a fault in firm structure that will probably never be fixed, which is why you have so many insecure, inadequate people constantly vying for validation from partners at first and then from white people, rich people when they become partners. And then perversely making up for it by bullying their underlings.