Tag Archives: Policy

Moving Forward by Looking Back

Moving Forward by Looking Back
You have been in your new job for a few months now. You are starting to settle in and are feeling comfortable. You are eager to make more of an impact and you have some ideas you want to put forward. Before you rush ahead, be certain you do the necessary homework. You researched the organization and its staff before you interviewed for the job. Now that you have some first-hand experience, dig a little deeper. You probably have legitimate access to reports that were not available to you as ... Read more
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Transfer of Power and Transfer of Responsibility

Transfer of Power and Transfer of Responsibility
Regardless of political affiliation, many women, especially those age 50 and above, were disappointed that Hillary Clinton wasn’t able to crack that glass ceiling once and for all. It’s an effort that has been underway since Shirley Chisholm ran for President in 1972.  It’s easy to say, “We’ll get it the next time,” but we all know that’s a long shot. As we watch the transfer of power in Washington, perhaps it is also time for a transfer of ... Read more
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Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.

Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.
The first time I read Samuel Beckett’s quote “Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better” I did not fully understand it or grasp the importance of those words. As a young social worker, a client painted this quote for me. It took years (and mistakes, setbacks, and disappointments) for the meaning of this sentiment to fully sink in. I was reminded of this quote again this week, upon hearing that Hillary Clinton would not be our first female President. Despite all of our hope—and arguably our need—to ... Read more
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What’s Wrong with Ambitious Women?

What’s Wrong with Ambitious Women?
Recently, while on the campaign trail, President Obama noted differences in perception that still exist regarding ambitious men and women. Ambitious men are seen in a positive light, while ambitious women are suspect. For some reason, the motives of high-achieving women are challenged. Their talents are questioned. Their leadership skills are downplayed. Their success is discounted, attributed to others, or chalked up to luck. Women and their ideas and achievements may be accepted as part ... Read more
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What’s in Your Red Envelope?

What’s in Your Red Envelope?
The first woman was appointed to a Cabinet position when Franklin Roosevelt was elected President in 1933. The appointment caused a great outcry and much resistance from male counterparts who objected to Roosevelt putting a woman in such an important role, especially when the country was struggling to find a way out of the Great Depression. Roosevelt held firm, and Frances Perkins, a social worker, became Secretary of Labor. Many people wondered why Perkins would want or accept such a ... Read more
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What Should a President Look Like?

What Should a President Look Like?
One of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign tactics is a repeated question to audiences about his opponent. “Do you think she looks presidential?  I don’t.” His audience always shouts,”No.” What Trump is asking with this question has more to do with gender than actual appearance. The implication is that Secretary Clinton doesn’t look like she can (or should) be the President of the United States because she is a woman. In past campaigns, we have ... Read more
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Women in Power Need a Man Behind Them

Women in Power Need a Man Behind Them
Former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder once noted that the US needs to get comfortable with women in power. In the past several decades, some progress has been made with that level of comfort. We have watched more women become CEOs of mega corporations like IBM, Pepsico and General Motors, and more women have become elected officials and have been appointed to high ranking political positions. Nancy Pelosi served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, and is now the ... Read more
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What’s the Issue?

What’s the Issue?
Some researchers have reported that millennials are the most socially concerned group since the baby boomers came of age in the 60s. They are issue-oriented and care about each other and society at large. This commitment was highlighted by the support many of them showed for the Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and his “social revolution.” Yet, when young people were interviewed about their support of Sanders, and asked which issues were most important, they ... Read more
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But Can She Type?

But Can She Type?
As a young professional woman in the early 70s, it was difficult to find women leaders at the national and international levels, During that time, I came across a poster with a picture of Golda Meir who had been elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969. She was holding her purse on her lap, and she looked kind and grandmotherly. What was most remarkable about the poster was the caption which read, “But can she type?” Perhaps one had to be a feminist to understand the ... Read more
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Hillary Clinton, Millennials, and Rhinoceros Skin

Hillary Clinton, Millennials, and Rhinoceros Skin
  This could be the year that we elect our first woman President. However, only 67% of Americans believe that we are ready to elect a female President. While we’ve made great strides in terms of gender equality in our political and social institutions over the past few decades, we still lag far behind many other countries. In fact, the U.S. is ranked 72nd in terms of female representation in Congress (or Parliament). With millennials filling more of the voter rolls, it can be assumed ... Read more
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