Tales from the Boom-Boom Room

Inthe1990s,womeninrecordnumberslookedtoWallStreetasagreatplacetobuildsuccessfulandlucrativecareers.Whatmanyofthemfoundtherewasnomeritocracy,butanindustrylivingbytherulesofa1960`sfraternity,withthemoneyandlegalclouttosilenceanychallenges.Award-winningcolumnistSusanAntillabrokethestoryofshockingsexdiscriminationatSmithBarneyandothermajorbrokers.HerdisclosuresinthepresswerearallyingcryforclassactionschallengingthesexualhazingandoutrageousdisparitiesinpaythatshackledprofessionalwomenonWallStreet.TakingitstitlefromtheinfamousbasementpartyroomofSmithBarney`sGardenCity,NewYork,branchoffice,andrepresentingyearsofextensiveresearch,TalesfromtheBoom-BoomRoomtracesthestoryoftheleadwhistle-blower,PamMartens,thecrusadingbrokerwhoputanentireindustryonthedefensive,thenfoundherselfatoddsnotjustwithherlocalbossesandwithpowerfulfigureslikeTravelersGrouppresidentJamieDimon,butwithherco-plaintiffsandattorneys.Thewomen`semploymentagreementsforbadethemtosue,andonlyaningeniouslegalstrategycircumventedthatvirtualgagruleandbroughtthescandaloutfrombehindthecloseddoorsofarbitration.Thisisarivetinghuman,legal,andbusinessdramaofwomenandmeninthefinancialinstitutionsonWallStreetandaroundAmerica.if(window.uet){uet("be")}if(window.onLdEnd){if(window.addEventListener){window.addEventListener("load",window.onLdEnd,false)}else{if(window.attachEvent){window.attachEvent("onload",window.onLdEnd)}}}if(window.ueh){ueh(0,window,"load",window.onLd,1)}if(window.ue_pr&&(window.ue_pr==3||window.ue_pr==4)){window.ue._uep()};