Women make up over half of the United States’ population, yet men have a significantly wider range of opportunities to obtain major leadership roles.

Throughout history, women have been belittled, left to be led by men, and forced to do housework, the stereotypical image that is about a century old.

Over the years, the treatment of women has improved in much of the world. However, some countries, for example, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and India, still do not have equal rights for women. 89% of the countries in the world are led by males. This injustice leads to women’s ideas and opinions to be left behind and many societies cannot advance as quickly as their counterparts.

Our country so far has had 44 male presidents and no female presidents. Many women have tried to run in the past and have not succeeded. Hillary Clinton, our most recent female candidate, says “The more we support women, the more we support democracy.” In our democratic country we have the freedom to elect equal representatives, so why don’t we? Women earn almost 60 percent of undergraduate degrees and 60 percent of all master’s. Therefore, women are equally as qualified to become leaders, doctor, and or business executives.”

A recent 2016 study it shows that 43 percent of the 150 highest earning public companies in Silicon Valley have no female executive officers. If women do not have the chance to show the society they can be major leaders, we cannot take any steps forward to further make our society equal.

To make a good leader, you need to be intelligent, honest, passionate, and much more, you do not however, have to be male.

Men continue to gain most of the available top jobs over women. Approximately two-thirds of Americans say it is easier for men than women to get elected to high political offices and to get top executive positions in business. Another reason employers often do not hire women representatives or elect women leaders is because of most their responsibilities as a mother at home. Most mothers put their children before themselves which could be a positive attribute as a leader.

Many of our country’s role models or celebrities help to influence the choices of our community today. For example, Kelly Clarkson says, “No, I wouldn’t say feminist — that’s too strong. I think when people hear feminist, it’s like, ‘Get out of my way, I don’t need anyone.’ I love that I’m being taken care of and I have a man that’s a leader. I’m not a feminist in that sense.” Lady Gaga also adds, “I’m not a feminist. I hail men, I love men, I celebrate American male culture — beer, bars, and muscle cars.” People look up to men to take control and be apart of major leadership roles because masculinity appeases our society. The words of these “popular” figures in our world have major and everlasting impacts on the choices of our leadership and culture.

Many women do not have equal opportunities to become major influential leaders in our society today. Celebrities who look up to men as superior contribute to many of the people’s opinions. Many Americans believe that it is easier for men to get important jobs than women. Also women’s roles as mother tend to get in the way of obtaining cruital jobs. We need to make steps forward to make our world equal.

References

@youseless, B. L. (2013, October 30). Kelly Clarkson: ‘Not a Feminist’. Retrieved from http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/30/kelly-clarkson-not-a-feminist/?utm_source=All_The_Web&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+time/entertainment+(TIME:+Entertainment)&utm_term=Entertainment

Biddle, T. (2017, December 07). Why Aren’t There More Women in Leadership Positions? Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/tabby-biddle/women-leaders_b_1454118.html

Chapter 3: Obstacles to Female Leadership. (2015, January 14). Retrieved from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/01/14/chapter-3-obstacles-to-female-leadership/

4460416. (2017, December 07). 10 Celebrities Who Say They Aren’t Feminists. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/feminist-celebrities_n_4460416.html

Tutorials Point. (2018, January 08). Women in Leadership Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/women_in_leadership/women_in_leadership_introduction.htm

Warner, J., & Corley, D. (n.d.). The Women’s Leadership Gap. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/reports/2017/05/21/432758/womens-leadership-gap/