How are politicians addressing what women want in the workplace?”
Some politicians are trying to give women better maternity leave benefits. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia is a big advocate of paid maternity leave. Other than that, though, catering toward women in the workplace can be a touchy issue. While current practices are unfair to women, instituting programs to try to equalize women in the workplace can be construed as unfair to men. As a woman, I see the unfairness first-hand, though I understand why many politicians are reluctant to try to change things. Sources: It is my opinion.
Veronika Vis-SommerInstitute of Governmental StudiesUniversity of California, BerkeleyThere is undoubtedly, an invisible barrier against women in politics. This barrier consists of old stereotypes.The most important one that keeps women from top political positions is the male held belief that women are not tough enough. In Britain, Germany and the United States, the countries I work in, as well as in most of the world’s nations, one essential characteristic expected from a leader, is toughness. Toughness on crime,toughness in negotiations, toughness in dealing with the interests of other nations. And sometimes toughness inwar. But women do not share the belief that women are not tough enough. It is certainly not the view of Mrs. Thatcher in England, Mrs. Golda Meir in Israel, Mrs. Bhuto in Pakistan, or Mrs. Aquino in the Philippines. As a matter of fact, these women have proven the contrary, some of them even waged war, and they gainedworldwide respect. But old stereotypes take a long
