bruce potterMore Female World Leaders 3
March 31st 2010 12:16
The Agony and the Apathy
Okay, I'll get myself away from this topic soon I swear, and back to the really important stuff like what's the deal with online dating?
But for now, let's tackle the larger issue.
More women in power and sooner, but when? Is Julia Gillard going to be the first Australian female prime minister? Why not? She's certainly closer than anybody in government, and certainly closer than anybody from the opposition.
I have a certain awkwardness with her cadence and diction. She always seems to be speaking like she's addressing a fourth grade class. Now - - - then - - - I'm - - - the ---- Deputy - - - Prime - - - - Minister - - - - so - - - - sit - - - - down - - - and - - - - pay - - - - attention.
But from most angles she seems to be well informed and moderate and an entirely safe bet. It would be good if people could stop commenting on her hair. Naturally, nobody comments on Kevin Rudd's hair. And her outfits seem to get a good deal of attention. But nobody ever comments on Rudd's suits. That is the world she's entered and she seems to be coping fairly well.
Those comments about her appearance seem to come mostly from other women. And this relates to my earlier point. If women are going to succeed in business and politics, women have to judge them for what they stand for, not for what they wear.
When Hilary Clinton made her presidential run, there was far more commentary about her pants suits, then her policy on the middle east.
As for the scariest woman to ever enter public life – Sarah Palin, so many people commented on how attractive she was, before they noticed that her policies rendered her not unlike the daughter of satan.
Women are by and large, far more humanitarian and far more considerate then men. They are far more in touch with themselves and others emotionally. This, for me, makes them far more attractive a proposition as political leaders. I doubt very much if Condaleeza Rice had have been US President she would have been so willing to rush headlong into wars without end. She would never have said such great Bushisms as “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” or “The Axis Of Evil.”
It is probably only Margret Thatcher who is a female leader of recent times to lead her nation into war, in the Falkland Islands.
It is troubling to note that in researching this post, women have mostly agreed with my view, but are resigned to the situation being beyond repair. Or they have just been plain uninterested. As usual apathy is the status quo's greatest ally.
So for the future of world peace how about more women get involved in politics? For is there is to be a future, it is to be with some greater measure of world peace than we currently abide.
Okay, I'll get myself away from this topic soon I swear, and back to the really important stuff like what's the deal with online dating?
But for now, let's tackle the larger issue.
More women in power and sooner, but when? Is Julia Gillard going to be the first Australian female prime minister? Why not? She's certainly closer than anybody in government, and certainly closer than anybody from the opposition.
I have a certain awkwardness with her cadence and diction. She always seems to be speaking like she's addressing a fourth grade class. Now - - - then - - - I'm - - - the ---- Deputy - - - Prime - - - - Minister - - - - so - - - - sit - - - - down - - - and - - - - pay - - - - attention.
Those comments about her appearance seem to come mostly from other women. And this relates to my earlier point. If women are going to succeed in business and politics, women have to judge them for what they stand for, not for what they wear.
When Hilary Clinton made her presidential run, there was far more commentary about her pants suits, then her policy on the middle east.
As for the scariest woman to ever enter public life – Sarah Palin, so many people commented on how attractive she was, before they noticed that her policies rendered her not unlike the daughter of satan.
Women are by and large, far more humanitarian and far more considerate then men. They are far more in touch with themselves and others emotionally. This, for me, makes them far more attractive a proposition as political leaders. I doubt very much if Condaleeza Rice had have been US President she would have been so willing to rush headlong into wars without end. She would never have said such great Bushisms as “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” or “The Axis Of Evil.”
It is probably only Margret Thatcher who is a female leader of recent times to lead her nation into war, in the Falkland Islands.
It is troubling to note that in researching this post, women have mostly agreed with my view, but are resigned to the situation being beyond repair. Or they have just been plain uninterested. As usual apathy is the status quo's greatest ally.
So for the future of world peace how about more women get involved in politics? For is there is to be a future, it is to be with some greater measure of world peace than we currently abide.
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Comment by Alex21
As a 21 year old, educated female I wish I could get up on my soap box and scream:
"Not True- all women believe in the importance of sound economic policies and support of tertiary education funding not what Tony Abbott is wearing or whether Julia's colorist has got it right this month"
But unfortunately my experience has been that this is not the case.
And yes I know there are people my age who believe that an understanding of political issues should not be considered a flaw or sign of premature aging.
However I do disagree that this is a primarily female issue; yes there are less female world leaders and this is due to an apathy towards politics, but I think this is an issue which shows a generational decline in caring about the world, or basically anyone but ourselves.
I think both men and women of my generation need to take a good look at ourselves and the people we want to be in charge and stop voting simply for who our parents voted for or who looks nicer in their campaign photograph.
In saying that Kevin 10 all the way!