Archive for July, 2011
Your role in poverty
With famine declared in Somalia, my heart breaks for the mothers watching their children dying of hunger. Today as we overindulge ourselves or toss wasted food into the trash, shouldn’t we be asking ourselves, “How can we find a better solution to feed those dying of starvation”? Obviously, if this were an easy question, the problem would have been solved generations ago, but with the situation in Africa and more nations to follow, sadly, this question still pervades. Is it possible that the mothers have the solution? Certainly fathers feel the pain of watching their children die, but women suffer in a different way because of that special connection between mother and child. Women are uniquely qualified to lead the way on issues such as hunger and oppression of women and children.
We do not need hand outs, we need a level playing field
I realize that society is part of the issue,but sometimes I wonder about some of the women who have raised these men who are in charge. Do we need a different perspective?
A Woman’s Strength – A Price Paid for Honesty
Sometimes the truth hurts. Being honest at work can be used for and against you While others may see your straight forwardness, your ability to think on your feet, and your camaraderie as strengths, others might see you as being “too direct”, unprepared, and chatty. What if someone uses these qualities against you? You can insulate yourself from such attacks by building up your relationships. There is no shortage of co-workers who suffer from jealousy and insecurity, so it is in your best interest to build a network of supporters who you can count on to rally to your defense. Someone once told me, “It pays to be nice to everyone”.
Equality
Recently I had an opportunity to debate with a friend of mine about his little girl and her future. He believes that the progress women have made to date affords them ample opportunity to pursue their dreams in whatever field they choose. He points out, however, that women’s equality in this country, especially in our government. is lagging behind most other counties in the world.
A woman who knows how to lead
While everyone is (justifiably) angry at President Obama for passing over Ms. Warren to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, let’s take a breath and reflect on the changes her leadership has already facilitated. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was her idea and it has become a reality. She has already contributed significant value to the country. While I certainly expect more from my president when it comes to giving women opportunities at the top, yet, because I do not know the inside details, I’m still willing took at this from a different perspective.
The Bully
Bullying isn’t just for kids. It turns out bullying is very common in the work place. A friend recently made me aware or how serious work bullying is among women in the work place. After listening to her story, I realized she isn’t the only victim. Although I’m not surprised, the more I researched women being bullied by other women, the more frustrated I became. Women being competitive with each other is nothing new, but hadn’t the women’s movement taught us anything? As we begin 21st century shouldn’t these petty jealousies and insecurities have disappeared? Women who hold other women back have a vested interested in the status quo. These women wield a certain level of power and fear that helping others will somehow diminish what took so long for them to build. This, of course, only cripples those that come after her. This is not how women change the world. We would all do well to heed the warning of former Secretary of State, Madeline Albright: “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
When the Wrong Woman Wins
Silent Enemies
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Women have been silent for far too long. If you think about it, we can be our own worst enemy. In the halls of government to the board rooms of powerful corporations, our voices have been lost. Though women are the backbone of our economy,our country, and world wide, we are not represented in percentages proportionate to our numbers.
The WoC
“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help other people get what they want”
We all know how bad it is out there with unemployment more than 9% nation wide . Sometimes I wonder if It’s the men in charge running the economy into the ground. There are currently 92 women in the 112th congress (17.0 percent of the total membership) and maybe that is the problem. There is no doubt I’m happy that we have 17% of women in Congress, but let’s keep in mind, we are about 50% of the population. The question is: Why don’t we have more women in Congress? Obviously this is a problem that we can solve. You and I can run for office. Are you willing to help? Be the change to elect the next woman president!
America’s Independence
Today is United States of America’s Independence. America’s independence did not come easy, as we know it. Women Independence too shall come. Women Independence to me is not about getting an education or being able to get a job, these are basic rights of human beings. To me Women Independence means having 40% to 65% women holding chief executive positions in the world instead of 3% of the world’s top 1000 companies and only 13.5% of U.S top 500. For now though, I will be happy with just 25% and counting forward, however we are not even at the 20% mark when looking at government or private sector positions. I’m not saying life will be easier for women by having more women holding these positions. Fairness and diverse voices has proven to gain competitive advantages, which is what American needs. Change can be a great thing, however it isn’t always positive. I believe it’s the attitude that’s everything, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” ~Winston Churchill
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