Kathie Lingle's Work-Life Blog

Playing the Gender Card is Not all Fun and Games

Nov. 8, 2007 - One of the trends predicted by futurist Mary O’Hara Devereaux has to do with women coming into their own in ways that are not yet part of the world’s collective awareness. She cautions that in the future, most of today’s assumptions won’t be of any utility, such as the belief that women aren’t good at science or math. On the contrary, she says, it won’t be long before women will be leading innovation in the world’s businesses, so preparing a work environment that is hospitable to them is a necessary and urgent priority for every employer.

Meanwhile, intrigued by what appears to be irreconcilable differences between Devereaux’s prediction and Bob Drago’s description of widely-held norms about the “proper” role of women (see my Nov. 6, 2007 entry), I can’t help perceiving world events as a grand theater upon which these polarizing forces in politics and gender are crashing in upon each other.  

The New York Times this week (11/5) asked, “Different Rules When a Rival Is a Woman?" An Oct. 30 article in the same publication announced that “Bhutto’s Return Brings Pakistani Politics to a Boil”, and quoted a warning from the chief minister of Sindh Province (Ms. Bhutto’s ancestral home) that “the rule of a woman would be a curse for Pakistan.”  Ironically, the Bush administration, which has been slow to warm to Bhutto’s resolute desire to return to power, is probably harboring similar thoughts right now about President Musharraf.  Is it remotely possible that the resolution to this particular deepening international crisis might hinge in some measure on what becomes of a woman?  I, for one, am glued to the unfolding drama, hoping against hope, yet terrified, fully expecting Benazir to meet the same fate as her father and brother.  I have had the privilege of hearing her speak in person, so I have felt her determination and have every confidence that she is currently where she most wants and needs to be, whatever the outcome. 
 
Now that the gender card is out on the table, everywhere at once it seems, let’s take a look at some other related developments.  While we are all focused elsewhere, something important is brewing within our own larger continent.  Last week, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner became the first woman president in Argentina’s history, after serving as a senator and first lady (!)  She follows the lead of Michelle Bachelet, the Chilean president elected last year, who was a former exile and political prisoner. Portia Simpson-Miller is the first female prime minister of Jamaica. Lourdes Flores lost the presidential election in Peru by one percentage point. Of course, the German Chancellor is currently a woman, but we have come to expect such gender-neutral behavior in Europe, Israel and India, to name a few other places around the world that have elected women leaders in the past.

Devereaux, Charlie Grantham and at least one other futurist are all fond of saying “The Future is Already Here; It’s Just Not Evenly Distributed.”  Enjoy the evening news!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of WorldatWork and its affiliate, Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP).