Christine Lagarde, French Finance Minister, Says 'Libido' Influences Business Approach Of Men, Women (VIDEO)

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde appeared on "This Week" with Christiane Amanpour to discuss several important situations in the global economy, including austerity, stimilus, debt, and collapses. They also spoke about French domestic issues, like raising the retirement age from 60 to 62.

But this interview wasn't just dry business talk. Lagarde addressed her "holy cow!" moment when she found out about the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. And she said that as a woman finance minister, she thinks that women "inject less libido and less testosterone into the equation." As a result, Lagarde say that in a majority of cases for women (though not all), it's less about ego and that allows women to approach situations in a slightly different manner.

WATCH:

Comments

[annie2foo]

04:03 PM on 10/13/2010

I've always said men start wars, women don't. This is not meant as a sexist remark. It's more the difference between how the different sexes can and will view the same situation. With men, it's the chest pounding, or intimidation. With women, it's strategic planning, or lying in wait. Neither is this a comment on which approach is best. Both approaches have distinct advantages.

[alice0216]

01:38 AM on 10/13/2010

The first thing that came to mind after seeing that segment was that it would be political suicide for an American female politician to say such a thing. I envy the ability of many European countries to embrace the kind of critical thinking and open dialogue that we are supposed to represent in this country.

[Gatormouth]

12:28 AM on 10/13/2010

Madam says women "inject less libido and less testosterone (than men ) into the equation." I would have to agree with that. Men have much more testosterone than women, and it would be expected. That aside, she seems to be something of the "silver fox", doesn't she? I wish we could get finance ministers like that.

[GatsbyGirl]

09:10 PM on 10/12/2010

I absolutely agree with her and love that she said it!

[Robert Cantor]

06:41 PM on 10/12/2010

when they decoded the human genome scientists discovered people of Gallic descent where genetically encoded to put everything in the context of sexual desire. They cant help it, it's in their genes.

[DrObvious]

07:10 PM on 10/11/2010

viva la difference! (between women and men, eh?)

[olddognewtrick]

07:07 PM on 10/11/2010

I guess that's what accounts for the salary gap...

[OutAtFirst]

03:57 PM on 10/11/2010

You show a Frenchie a wadded up old dish towel and they'll tell you how it relates to sexuality.

[AJoSi]

06:20 PM on 10/11/2010

classy

[JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ]

03:07 PM on 10/11/2010

If a guy had said this about estrogen and the stuff it makes them do, he would have been fired faster than Sanchez.

[Nicole Maron]

06:23 PM on 10/11/2010

Did you even bother to read the article? It was a woman who made those comments.

[LonosCurse]

11:22 AM on 10/12/2010

What?

[DrObvious]

07:12 PM on 10/11/2010

The French - and most Europeans - are more willing to talk openly about matters of sexuality and gender than Americans, seems to me. Don't think those remarks will ruffle the feathers of French citizens enough to drum her out of public service.

[tendertapper]

12:20 PM on 10/11/2010

Wow some on here are thick. She clearly said not all women but generally. I think she is correct and it is not gender bashing of men. It is societal. From birth men have free reign and if you're white male, it goes beyond that. You know what I mean. Boys will be boys type stuff.

And that stuff doesn't change. Just think guys in a frat. Then fast forward 10 year in their life and they work in a white male dominated field like finance. Men are able to get away with unimaginable things because there is not diversity especially higher up. The women usually get fired for some reason in American high finance and have to file lawsuits to be made whole.

Still, the status quo is continued. An unfriendly environment for women and the party continues. Men are very motivated by tradition which allows them to be taken advantage of quite easily but other males!

[Lahonda]

06:06 PM on 10/11/2010

I agree with you. Many of the women in leadership are there because they're doubly ruthless to survive the climb. But they needed that "speciality" to survive at all at major executive positions. This has painted many female leaders in a bad light when they aren't as ruthless.

[PORK RIND]

11:59 AM on 10/11/2010

Christine (Lagarde, not the other one), is absolutely right. Women are more even-keeled , rational and stable business managers. Too bad this does not translate well into most marriages and/or love relationships.

[LonosCurse]

11:23 AM on 10/12/2010

I never met a wife I couldn't get along with, so long as she wasn't mine.

[PORK RIND]

11:38 AM on 10/12/2010

Obviously, you can never be a good business manager :-))))

[AristophanesJones]

11:49 AM on 10/11/2010

Okay, we'll let women run the business and finance world.

Just leave math and science to men.

Oh yeah, I went THERE.

[Biendiosa]

11:21 AM on 10/11/2010

Could you please come and work for the U.S. government?

[middle-aged]

11:54 AM on 10/11/2010

1. The testosterone comment is actually related to taking risk, desirable in US vs. long term planning which is boring. It's instant vs. deferred gratification.
2. Since when could the French or any Europeans be role models for Americans. An American diplomat remarked after WWII about the British '... other than language and literature we do not have anything in common with them'

[silverstreet]

12:26 PM on 10/11/2010

Language, literature, law .... what else is there?

[kdallas999]

01:36 PM on 10/11/2010

When the French saved our country in the revolution - I think we liked them then.

[PORK RIND]

12:00 PM on 10/11/2010

She can't. She is not a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

[mrspiffy]

11:19 AM on 10/11/2010

But of course...
http://yieldpig.blogspot.com/

[LonosCurse]

11:24 AM on 10/12/2010

I hate this links, they never have anything to do with anything.

[Bernique]

10:43 AM on 10/11/2010

Christine Lagarde is a favorite of the present cabal running this world because she is one of them. She was trained at the University of Chicago!