A statue of a 4-foot-tall, 250-pound bronzed girl in a wind-tossed ponytail is not going anywhere New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on April 2. “In her short time here, ‘Fearless Girl’ has fueled powerful conversations about women in leadership and inspired so many. Now, she’ll be asserting herself and affirming her strength even after her temporary permit expires — a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit,” his office said in a statement.”
The famous statue stares down the famous 11-foot-tall Wall Street “Charging Bull” in support of gender diversity. For some, the bull is a symbol of male dominance in the corporate America like Cristina Pogorevic, who comes from Bucharest, Romania. She told Fox 6 New York in an interview: “She is a message of women’s power and things that are changing in the world right now.”
In what was supposed to be a brief appearance to celebrate International Woman’s Day and to send a message to corporate America about workplace gender diversity, now will have a home in Manhattan’s Financial District until February 2018. Initiated by State Street Global Advisors, an investment management division of State Street Corporation and the world’s third largest asset manager, has been vocal about seeing more women in leadership roles. The statue also celebrated the first anniversary of the Gender Diversity Index fund that “invests in U.S. large-capitalization companies that rank among the highest in their sector in achieving gender diversity across senior leadership.”
One visitor from Australia explained to Fox 6 that the indignant girl symbolizes strength. “Standing up against something and we see her as a powerful image. She represents all the young women in the world that want to make a difference.”
But not everyone is a fan.
One artist blasted the statue as being a gimmick. “That is not a symbol! That’s an advertising trick,” “Charging Bull” creator Arturo Di Modica told Market Watch.”Women, girls, that’s great, but that’s not what that (my sculpture) is. I put it there for art. My bull is a symbol for America. My bull is a symbol of prosperity and for strength.”
Kristen Visbal created the statue, which was only permitted to remain for a week on March 22, but it was extended by the city’s Street Activity Permit Office through April 2, The Daily News reported.
Whether it is a marketing ploy or not, “Fearless Girl,” is persuading women to stand up to gender bias and that they can make a difference.
The girl with her hands on her hips standing in defiance will live on.