Pipeline and Labyrinth~Courtney

Hey, group C2L2! I found that the article Operation Pipeline by Beth Hawkins was a very intriguing article. We all talk about how we as women are making a breakthrough in politics, when actually we are at a setback. Last class we discussed the chapter nine of Closing the Leadership Gap and we gave a list of advice as an activity on how to advance in power. The advice that we gave pertained to how one should never be complacent with their current position. That is what society perceives women to be at this stage. Hawkins stated in the article that high profile women such as Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi make society see that women prevailing. This is true, but now people are not voting for women in elections because they think that the playing field is equal. In the 2001 election, the number of women that were elected in the state and local elections had dropped (Hawkins 2). That was shocking to read, I had this perception that we are progressing not regressing. I liked the quote that Deborah Rhode said about this “no-problem problem”; “The minute you say we arrived, you start going backwards” we should never be complacent with the status that we are in until we are completely and utterly happy about the status that we have achieved (Hawkins 2). Not only is complacency the reason we are not progressing it is also the issues that are not associated with a women’s views such as terrorism or war.
Women’s issues (and this may not pertain to all women) involve issues such as more affordable health care options, childcare and education. In this moment and time, we are facing a “War on Terror.” People’s main concern is not going to be solely based on those certain issues while a war is going on. There was a survey done by Barbara Lee Family Foundation that males and females feel that men are more credible in the subjects of terrorism or war. I really liked the fact that the White House Project’s Real Security Initiative is trying to help women candidates find their voice on this issue. It will teach women basic security issues, such as the defense budget and will help women tailor their national security message to their own constituency (Hawkins 5). I think that once this process become well on its way, men will not be the only face seen as the force behind war issues.
Every issue that was mentioned in the article Labyrinth, I agreed with. This article went along the same lines as the book we read for class “Closing the Leadership Gap”. It talked about how women’s leadership characteristics are different from men in that they are more communal qualities that portray the affectionate, helpful, friendly, kind, energetic as well as interpersonally sensitive, gentle. While men are seen as being more domineering, assertive, forceful and what people consider a boss or executive to be (5). Women can be just of good as leaders as men but they are being held back by the stereotypes that are placed on them for being a female. The title and reasoning behind this article is completely true. Women are in a Labyrinth because we have to be persistence and ambitious to get through the maze of reaching our goals. Even though we do have to work harder to get to where we need to be, we will get there somehow in some way.