International Women's Day: New Statue Of Girl Installed Facing Wall Street Bull

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — An asset management company has installed a temporary statue of girl opposite the iconic charging bull that guards Wall Street as a means of challenging companies to add more women to their boards.

State Street Global Advisors put the girl in place on Tuesday, the eve of International Women's Day, as a call to action for the more than 3,500 groups in which the company invests. State Street is calling on those companies to add more women to their boards, and cautioned that the asset management group would take steps in response to unchanging companies.

"In the event that a company fails to take action to increase the number of women on its board, SSGA will use proxy voting power to influence change - voting against the chair of the board’s nominating and/or governance committee if necessary," the company said in a statement.

The statute will be squaring off against the bull, a tourist favorite for photos opportunities, for at least a week, according to SSGA spokeswoman Anne McNally, although the company is in "active conversations" with the city about extending the statue's permit to last a month.

"If the city wants to make it a permanent installation a la the charging bull, we're fully support of that," McNally told Patch on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the girl proved a far more popular photo opportunity that her four-legged companion. People crowded around the statue, impatiently waiting their turn to snap a selfie with the statue.

The girl was created by Kristen Visbal. The artist told the Wall Street Journal that she hoped the all women could relate to the girl.

"The bull is symbolic of every issue coming down the pike, that they can stand firm and hold their ground and deal with it...Wall Street is a traditionally male environment and it says 'hey we're here'," she said. "To me it says a woman can be delicate and petite, but strong."

A plaque at the little girl's feet reads: "Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference.

Lead image via Ciara McCarthy/Patch.

This post was updated on March 8 at 3:10 p.m.