Women in Power

In life there is always a balance of power. Typically men have been in the more powerful positions in business, government, and general commerce. Men have been viewed was traditional leaders, but today shows a picture of leadership that makes room for women. Women leaders like Hillary Clinton, Mary McAleese, Tarja Halonen, Meg Whitman, and Marissa Mayer have fought hard battles to become leaders in the respective fields of government and finance, creating a path for others to follow.

            Even in 2013, there are only twenty one women acting as CEO’s of fortune 500 companies. There are only seventy six women in Congress, and only seventeen in the Senate. Compared to the number of men in these positions, women are outnumbered almost five to one.

            The question is why. Why are men still paid more than women? Why are men still in many positions of leadership that could just as easily be filled by a woman? The answer is a combination of prejudice and tradition that relies on old stereotypes.

            I see this frequently. My mother is a woman in power, a site administrator that oversees hundreds of employees in the government. She has fought hard for her position, and received some negative feedback in from men who were not happy with her in charge. There is nothing wrong with her leadership, her job performance, or her policy. She receives some negative feedback simply because of her gender.

            Common retorts of “why should I listen to a woman?” and “what does this b*tch know” are heard more often than is truly called for. People like my mother have to out-perform men in the same positions in order to receive the same jobs and prestige. For a woman to occupy a leadership position, her qualifications must put her highly above her male competitors.

            We see this on a large scale with Hillary Clinton. As Secretary of State, she took on a job many men have failed at, and for the most part succeeded. She may run for U.S. president again, and she will always have a foot in politics. For her to receive these positions though, she had to do better than many men, even possibly her husband in some cases.

            Stereotypes of women that stop them from receiving jobs are hysteria, moodiness, life problems, and a general assumption of a lack of intelligence. Today, it is more common for a woman to get a PhD than it is for them to occupy managing or leadership roles. This juxtaposition honestly makes no sense, as many academics are also qualified leaders. It takes a certain charisma and leadership style to teach on the college level or present academic research in a knowledgeable, authoritative way.

            Many professional women still have families, and they do not let one profession get in the way of their professions. Men are often fathers, and less work is placed upon them to rear children. Women usually have to be able to do two jobs: full time workforce member and household caretaker. The idea that a woman will fly off the handle and lose control of her emotions is completely unfounded. Women actually express emotion better than men do.

            More women in leadership will excel someday. One day we will reach equal pay for equal service and earn the respect that is deserved. Unfortunately, in order to achieve these goals women will have to break down prejudices and stereotypes that have existed for generations. Men should be wary, and far more accepting, of women leaders because it is happening and soon the very man saying that the idea is ridiculous will be unseated by a woman.