Menu
White shoe firm is an American term for prestigious companies typically in law, banking, and finance.
Catherine was rather skeptical about working for a white shoe firm, as she always considered those very snobbish, but, as she settled in, she found the work environment to be quite pleasant.
The term white shoe firm derives from white derby shoes worn in the 1950s by Ivy League (a small group of elite American colleges) students. These students later worked at traditional professional services firms established and occupied by white Anglo-Saxon protestants (colloquially known as WASPs) and representing the upper class. The white shoe firms were for some time known to be quite discriminatory, not allowing Jews, Catholics, or people of color. This no longer applies and the negative connotations have largely disappeared from the term. Its current meaning is a business with a long history indicating stability and quality, a leader in its field.
Anglický pojem white shoe firm je americké označení prestižních firem obvykle v oblasti práva, bankovnictví a financí.
Catherine byla ohledně práce ve white shoe firm poměrně skeptická, protože takové společnosti vždy považovala za velmi snobské, ale jakmile se usadila, zjistila, že pracovní prostředí je vcelku příjemné.
Pojem white shoe firm (doslova firma bílé boty) je odvozený od bílých polobotek typu derby, které v padesátých letech dvacátého století nosili studenti Ivy League (malá skupina elitních amerických vysokých škol). Tito studenti později pracovali v tradičních firmách odborných služeb založených a zaměstnávajících bílé anglosaské protestanty (white Anglo-Saxon prostestants, zkráceně WASPs) a reprezentující vyšší společenskou třídu. Po nějaký čas byly white shoe firms známé jako diskriminační, protože nepřijímaly Židy, katolíky ani lidi jiné barvy pleti. To již neplatí a negativní konotace z pojmu do zančné míry vymizela. V současnosti pojem označuje podnik s dlouhou historií představující stabilitu a kvalitu, lídra ve svém oboru.
English Editorial Services’ mission is to assist international businesses and organizations of all sizes to communicate clearly, correctly, and persuasively with their business partners and target audiences.
Simply subscribe to receive our Business Term of the Day at no charge to your inbox each business day, with explanation in English and Czech.
English Editorial Services’ mission is to assist international businesses and organizations of all sizes to communicate clearly, correctly, and persuasively with their business partners and target audiences.
Simply subscribe to receive our Business Term of the Day at no charge to your inbox each business day, with explanation in English and Czech.
