Finally – A Choice of Role Models
I had an interesting conversation with Anne Fisher, Ask Annie columnist from Fortune magazine. We were talking about the presidential election and the differences between Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. I came to appreciate the fact that even though I don’t agree with either woman on everything, I do respect them for walking The Thin Pink Line in their own ways. What I particularly appreciate is having two disparate styles to observe and learn from. It’s about time we had a choice of role models in the upper echelon of politics.
If you tend to be serious, cerebral, cautious, and strategic then you most likely see Hillary as a woman who can teach you something. On the other hand, if you tend to be down to earth, practical, gutsy, and prefer to shoot from the hip, then Sarah models the behaviors you might most want to emulate. Both women are intelligent, persistent, passionate, and committed to the causes in which they believe — traits we all can admire. As women, we can appreciate the gifts each brings to the table without necessarily embracing her position on the issues.
In some ways, this is the time we’ve all been waiting for –having female candidates with distinct personalities and positions in the spotlight. For too long we’ve all been lumped into the “female” category, regardless of our unique views, communication styles, or personal preferences. I wish more women would think about this when judging their co-workers. The myth that women don’t like working for other women still runs rampant. Sure there are women I wouldn’t want to work for, but there are just as many men I’d avoid as well. When we finally come to the realization that there are more differences within any one group than there are differences between two groups, we will have taken a giant leap toward equality.
