When I went through old yearbooks recently, I was wondering how much my female teachers have shaped my views of leadership. They always were strong women who showed extraordinary leadership, and they were also very heartfelt and empathetic. I wish I could ask my former male classmates if they felt the same. If they cared. If it mattered to them.
I’m wondering if a male student cares if he’s learning from a female or male instructor. Interestingly, I do care. I choose courses taught by female instructors. And this is not about neglecting great male instructors—I know that there are amazing ones out there. But I like the idea that females are even in the position of teaching, that they are in a role where they can make a difference to society. It was unachievable for many for a long time, and not because they weren’t smart women; it was just because they were women.
Looking at other professions, there still is a lack of female leadership. Looking at politics, only a few females make it higher up on the list.
Are we still afraid of a female leader as a society? When I look at the news and see what is happening in Myanmar, I wonder why the democracy under female leadership wasn’t accepted.
I wonder if it’s really so hard to endure seeing a female succeed in things others have failed at. I wonder why there aren’t more females elected for top leadership positions.
Maybe not as many females really care as much about getting in these leadership postitions. Indeed, when I want to talk about politics or about change, it’s mostly my male friends I talk to; it seems my female friends are not really interested in changing things. But here’s why: most of them haven’t gone to post-secondary. They were raised by old-fashioned parents, and their main goal is to have a family, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But if higher education is the key to female leadership, it’s going to be hard to make change, as it’s difficult to get people interested in higher education when they’ve been raised with the main goal of having a family.
We shouldn’t have to choose: although it’s not easy, we can decide to have children and be a bad-ass science student as well.
So, it’s not just a matter of needing higher education—we also need a society which creates a support system for those who strive to have it all. Free childcare, online learning options, cross-generation care programs—let’s bring seniors together with young children so both are entertained while mothers can enjoy furthering their education. All generations could gain something out of that.
We need to start now and think proactively of solutions rather than just carrying on with what doesn’t seem to be working.