Why Millennial Women Do Not Want To Lead

[redqueen]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deniserestauri/2012/07/16/why-millennial-women-do-not-want-to-lead/

(snip)

But the media is not just at fault for producing images that diminish our bodies and thus our self-confidence and self worth; it must also be held accountable for the treatment of the women who do in fact dare to lead. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were presented not as political candidates, but rather as stereotypes and opposite ends of sexist dichotomies. Both women’s ideals were dismissed in exchange for commentary on their physical attractiveness or their ability or inability to live up to typical definitions of femininity. Not only were these women abused and constantly criticized for attempting to lead, they were again reduced to the way they looked, for how they achieved or failed to achieve a ridiculous standard of perfection and ultimately femininity. It would take an extremely self-assured young women to observe this treatment and see that aspiring to such a leadership role results in receiving the same ridiculous scrutiny, the same frustrating dismissal of her ideals. It would take an extremely self-assured young woman in a culture that encourages young women to be anything but.

And yet male candidates of years past have done far worse than fail to live up to a standard of beauty or the epitome of their gender role and have escaped condemnation –in many cases, they are even rewarded. Mayor of D.C. Marion Barry was re-elected to his political position after serving time in prison on a conviction of cocaine possession. Former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer resigned from his position after a prostitution scandal and was rewarded with a lively career as a political commentator. While women –in politics and beyond –are scrutinized and dismissed as a viable candidate for something as inconsequential to leadership skills like lack of sex appeal men can weather far more serious transgressions and emerge relatively unscathed.

(snip)

So, why don’t women want to lead?The answer is in the pages of the magazines we read and now even in the news coverage of the political debates we watch, which promote cultural standards that destroy women’s confidence and prescribe unattainable standards in all areas of our lives. In order for women to lead –for women to want to lead, to feel that we are capable of leading –we need to redefine leadership altogether. We need to define leadership not as perfection but as intelligence, honesty and doing the right thing. It is also essential that we question and change a society that sets the standard for achievement impossibly high for women and upsettingly low for men.

In this day and age –especially in this day and age –I think we can all agree that we are in desperate need of strong leadership. The bottom line is that discouraging half of the population from leading —beyond being sexist,wrong and regressive —narrows the pool of capable candidates in a way that we simply can’t afford. So the next time the opportunity presents itself, convince the smart, talented young women in your life that they don’t need to fit an unattainable, unrealistic standard of perfection to lead: let them know their intelligence and integrity are more than enough.

[redqueen]

1. On the same topic... Why Millennial Women Are Poised to Change the World

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-millennial-women-are-poised-to-change-the-world-2012-7

...

Just a few months ago I was interviewing a 30-year old woman who is running a burgeoning social enterprise with a 10-year goal of creating 1 million jobs in some of the world’s poorest countries. This is her second go-around at leading an organization. The first time she helped found a nonprofit that garnered celebrity endorsements from Jennifer Connelly to Justin Beiber. It grew 85 percent in its first year.

As we wrapped the interview, I threw out a question that seemed natural, “What’s it like to be a leader for your generation?”

The pause on the other end of the phone was long. She finally said, “I’m not leading anyone. I’m not a leader. I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

If my generation has a chance to make a difference in this world, we have to go beyond modestly “doing what needs to be done.” We need to reframe what leadership looks like and proudly claim our role as leaders.

...

[redqueen]

2. Maybe women are 'leading' the way to a future with no "leaders". nt