A Brief History of Women In Insurance

Women are an integral part of insurance and have been since its inception. Women were acting as the voice of reason and canvassing for their male agents early on in the industry. In the late 1700s, Elizabeth Stimson was appointed to Norwich General Assurance in Cambridge after the death of her husband becoming the first notable female insurance leader.

By the mid-1800s, Prudential officially employed women as canvassers because they were better at building trusting relationships with working-class housewives. Women were able to convince housewives they needed a policy should something happen to their husbands. Once they secured the trust of the person, they had to pass the lead onto a male agent to generate the policy but made a commission from the sale.

By the later part of the 1800s, Prudential brought women in to work as clerks as long as they were the daughter of a professional man, highlighting the nepotism and class requirements in the insurance industry at the time. Business colleges began to flourish as young women looked to gain training and were offered tuition in exchange for learning shorthand, typewriting and book-keeping. These women then went on to work clerical roles supporting their male colleagues.

Despite the early adoption of women in insurance, many remain in lower to mid-level positions while their male counterparts account for most of the senior level management and C-suite level positions. Women are ready to advance in the insurance industry and modern initiatives are help to promote candidates where appropriate.

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