I went to a wonderful luncheon last week. Take Your Brain to Lunch featured speaker, Randy Mayeux, reviewed two books. One of the books was Anne Kornblut’s Notes from the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, And What It Will Take For A Woman To Win. Regardless of your political views, gender, age, economic status or any other demographic data, no one can fail to acknowledge the impact these two women have had, and will probably continue to have, on our country.

According to Kornblut, “their candidacies (Clinton and Palin) unleashed virulent strains of sexism across the country that many had thought were already eradicated.” While women represent 50 percent of the population, they are as underrepresented in government positions of power as they are in corporate executive suites and academic professors with tenure.

Hillary, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, and currently serves as Secretary of State, has a long history of service to the country and shaping the view of women in politics. She was the first lady of Arkansas and then of the country. She has served as a senator from New York and, as a mother, helped planned her daughter’s wedding.

Sarah Palin rose to political fame when she was picked by John McCain to be his running mate. As the first woman governor of Alaska, she was virtually unknown. Today, she has a TV program on Fox, is on a book tour, making numerous speeches and encouraging candidates who she believes hold the same values she does. As a mother, she supported her daughter while she was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

No doubt the ceiling is cracked, but it is definitely not shattered!

In July, 1848, at the Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, NY, it was first proposed that women have the right to vote. Neither of the event founders, Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Lucretia Mott was still alive in 1920, when women finally gained the right to vote through the certification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Every president has published a proclamation for Women’s Equality Day since 1971 when legislation was first introduced in Congress by Bella Abzug. This resolution was passed designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day.

As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of voting on August 26, it is apparent women still have a long way to go in our country. Women account for less than 20% of Congress, yet 51% of the population. They are CEO of a fraction of Fortune 500 companies, yet more than 50% of the workforce is female. Almost 50 years after the Equal Pay Act was enacted, American women still only earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn.

However, today is a day women should celebrate. And the upcoming elections are days when women should not only be seen, but heard!

For fun, take the Women Equality Day Quiz.

http://www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/equalityday_quiz.html

Early elections have started. Election Day, November 3, probably won’t have an enormous turnout. It isn’t a midterm or presidential year. But some issues will be decided by voters, and American citizens should take their right to vote seriously. As with most recent elections, the female vote will probably exceed the male vote, thus determining many things.

In presidential election years, the gender gap and the women’s vote are frequently discussed in the media. Candidates of both major parties vie to win their coveted vote and support, while trying not to alienate others. Women are a powerful political ally. However, they don’t have as much high-level, decision-making power as they should. More women need to seek office, win and make changes that are needed to improve our economy, government and country. Others need to continue to shatter the glass ceiling, run corporations and open their own businesses.

There is much speculation that if more women had been in top positions in financial institutions/Wall Street, things would have turned out differently. My guess is they are right and that we would be living in a much more staple economy right now.

Women are becoming much more political and powerful in many countries, including some that in the past have predominantly relegated women to second class citizenship.

As more young women are educated and fight for the rights they want, their countries will be better off as well. Having a more diverse leadership and a different, more feminine perspective will enhance productivity, profitability and peace in regions marred by years of dictatorships, poverty and destruction.

Fifteen countries/territories currently have female Presidents or Prime Ministers. They are Ireland, Finland, The Philippines, Mozambique, Germany, Liberia, Chile, India, Haiti, Argentina, Bangladesh, Gabon, Iceland, Lithuania and Croatia.

Others have had women in the past, but their current leader is male. A few are Malta, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Latvia, Panama and Indonesia.

Additionally, a few countries also have Monarchial or Vice-regal women in power. The United Kingdom, Denmark, The Netherlands, Canada, Antigua, Barbuda and Australia are a few examples of these.

The United States, while it has had women in very powerful positions, has not yet had a woman president. However, I’m sure the time is coming and I certainly anticipate witnessing this historic event. However, I also feel it is equally as important to have the right woman for the job. Hiring, voting or promoting women because they are women doesn’t help anyone. Doing it because it makes good political or business sense insures a strong country in the future.

I don’t think of my blog as a place to discuss politics, but I have been amazed at how many people have assumed that women will vote for Sarah Palin, not on her merit, but because she is a woman. I am obviously in favor of encouraging and helping women to achieve their full potential, including breaking the ultimate glass ceiling. Whether it is in business or the political arena, they should be qualified for the job. I don’t think promoting a woman, just because she is a woman, is either a good business decision or helps women.

     Likewise, when voting for a political candidate, how their views on the issues align with yours should be paramount. I plan to vote for the team that I believe will move the country in the right direction over the next four years. I’ll cast my ballot for the one I hope will provide a safer, better America for my children and grandchildren.

     Of course like many others, I would love to see a woman in the White House. But I won’t be voting for or against Sarah Palin on the fact she is a woman, just as I won’t be voting for or against Obama because he is African American. I hope everyone reading this blog exercises their privilege to vote, and votes for the team that they feel is best for America based on whatever criteria they deem most important, which shouldn’t be gender or race.