Myers writes well and it is an interesting read despite its shortcomings simply because of who she is and the positions she held in the Clinton Administration.
However, one can't help but wonder when these kind of stereotypes -- ones that are not borne out by facts -- persist. Women as empathetic, giving, pragmatic, other-focused. The reality is that women who have been successful as political leaders have not been like this -- whether looking at historical figures like Elizabeth I, or present-day figures like Maggie Thatcher or Golda Meir. Strong, confident, even ruthless women make strong leaders -- not empathetic nurterers. Women are just as capable as men are at being strong and ruthless, and that is the way to lead, not with some kind of new-agey psychobabble about empathy. It's precisely these kinds of stereotypes about women -- sadly often trafficked by women themselves -- that holds women back by creating these misperceptions. If women want to be leaders, they should exhibit leadership qualities -- those aren't "male" qualities, they are leadership qualities and there have been numerous women who even in the modern era have displayed them and served as effective leaders. |
Why Women Should Rule the World Books In Print, Audio Books.