New Delhi, March 8 -- Even as women make their presence felt in India's finance sector, with many making it to corner offices and boardrooms, female participation remains abysmally low in one corner: equity dealing rooms.

full of aggression, sharp language, and a no-filter attitude that can be overwhelming," said a female equity trader with nearly two decades of experience who didn't want to be identified. "The gender ratio is shockingly low at 20:1 in dealing rooms."

However, in the finance sector overall, about 20% of those employed are women, according to estimates shared by search firm Korn Ferry India. Women's participation is even higher in an industry like information technology services at 36%, according to estimates by industry...