Amidst the stock exchanges and world-known businesses that line New York City's financial district Wall Street, a new visitor has settled in the bustling city. This visitor, while new to the city, has already created a powerful string of reactions since it arrived. The visitor, an approximately 50 inch bronze statue of a young girl with her hands on her hips has been called "Fearless Girl."

On the night before International Women's Day, the investment management company State Street Global Advisors, a subsidiary of State Street Corporation (STT  ),  installed Fearless Girl. Initially created by the American sculptor Kristen Visbal, the Fearless Girl statue boldly stands in front of a statue of a charging bull. Placed by State Street, Fearless Girl was implemented as a form of solidarity with the demonstrators of International Women's Day. Moreover, Fearless Girl is the center of State Street's ongoing campaign for the addition of more women to the boards of companies. Standing in front of a bull, Fearless girl has acquired the common interpretation of women standing strong despite the dominance of men in business. The interpretation is made clear with State Street's actions following the installation. The investment firm supported International Women's Day by writing a letter to 3,500 companies, asking for an increase in female board members. 

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While Fearless Girl has gained vigorous support over social media, some have come against the installation of the girl in front of the Charging Bull statue. The well-known charging bull, created by sculptor Arturo di Modica, is meant to symbolize the ferocity of New York, and by extension, America in the world market. Originally unofficially installed by Modica, the charging bull earned a permanent residence on Wall Street and has been there for almost 30 years. 

Could the Fearless Girl earn the same right to a Wall Street residence? This seems possible, but not if Charging Bull Modica has something to say about it. Modica is reportedly seeking to sue State Street Global Advisors for tarnishing his copyright, trademark and his artwork as a whole. One of Modica's lawyers, Norman Siegel explained the change in meaning for Modica's work, stating that the bull "no longer carries a positive, optimistic message. Rather it has been transformed into a negative force and a threat."

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The backlash that Fearless Girl has received goes farther than Modica's artwork, however. Some have argued that the installation of Fearless Girl was merely for advertising purposes, using International Women's Day as a promotion tool. This is supported with State Street's slogan, since removed, that stated "Know the power of women in leadership. SHE makes a difference." While SHE is used as a pronoun, it is also the trading symbol for an index fund of State Street. Along with claims of promotional motives, people also are questioning the representation of a women's movement with a young girl. 

While the Fearless Girl statue faces some backlash, it also seems to have a bright future ahead of it. Even New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio defended Fearless Girl, tweeting "Men who don't like women taking up space are exactly why we need the Fearless Girl." Although the Fearless Girl statue was initially supposed to remain for a week, its stay was later extended to a month. As of recently, the Fearless Girl statue has been granted an extended stay of a year through public rallying and outcry. With continued public support, the Fearless Girl statue may earn itself a permanent residence along Wall Street's world-famous cobblestone plaza soon.