What’s wrong with trading youth and beauty for resources? Today #MeToo has framed this dynamic mostly in terms of abuses by powerful men. But while I’m sliding comfortably into middle age these days, I can remember the thrill of being a perky young woman and getting older men in positions of power to do things for you.
I also remember, in the last City job I held, watching with grudging admiration as an office receptionist on her second job sidestepped the entire corporate hierarchy to be appointed company secretary on a six-figure salary, with her main qualification being (as far as anyone could tell) her close personal friendship with one of the senior brokers.
