The Times has had a few articles in the recent year about why women aren’t getting ahead in businesses that are aimed at the female consumer. It seems counter intuitive that the heads of advertising companies are men who are trying to reach women consumers. Perhaps the biggest head scratcher of them all is the fashion industry. Again, women aren’t reaching the tops of the ranks. Why is that?

First, the Times points the work-family problem. We’ve discussed that factor enough in the past few weeks, so let’s move on. What else?

Second, the Times points out that gay men don’t think that women are up to the job. Tom Ford says, “Men are often better designers for women than other women…. Of course there are many more gay male designers. I think we are more objective. We don’t come with the baggage of hating certain parts of our bodies.”

Gay men are part of the patriarchy, too. Who knew?

Third, gay men take care of other gay men, but women are threatened by each other.

“Gay men stick together like a band of brothers,” Ms. Subkoff said in an interview. “It’s more common for a man to bring up a younger assistant” who is male “and be proud of that,” she added, “whereas a woman would be threatened” to promote another woman.

Discuss.