Comments on: How powerful women behave

By: Howard, Seattle, WA

Howard, Seattle, WA — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:20:11 +0000

I encourage women to be in leadership positions. But I doubt it will ever be equal until women take on the most difficult tasks of the rank and file. An example; there will never be an equal number of women generals in the armed forces until women are both allowed to be in combat AND (this is the most significant part) willingly fill combat roles in equal numbers to men. I can cite other examples, but this one comes to the top.

By: Mary Ellen Hettinger, Amherst, New Hampshire

Mary Ellen Hettinger, Amherst, New Hampshire — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:10:34 +0000

The Girl Scout Research Institute studied almost 2500 girls and more than 1500 boys and found that girls don’t want to be leaders in the traditional “comand-and-control” (i.e. bossy) model. But given the chance to be their ideal of a leader — someone with principles, ethical standards and the ability to affect change and make things better — they’ll step right up! Girls are redefining leadership. See http://www.swgirlscouts.org and click on Change It Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership, or go to http://www.gsusa.org. Girl Scouting is the expert on girls. Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place and we have been building leaders for 96 years.

By: JK, Los Angeles, CA

JK, Los Angeles, CA — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:11:51 +0000

This topic has been so intriguing and one that warrants much attention as the next generation of women leaders rise in America and around the world and as the number of women are outnumber the number of men in colleges and universities. At the core of any leadership position, personal values and ethics, vision and drive must be highly regarded. Without these principles, it becomes really quite challenging for women to rise to the top.

By: Joan P. Williams, Newport Beach, Ca.

Joan P. Williams, Newport Beach, Ca. — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:39:54 +0000

Im 79, my generation really had a tough time with men. I heard lousy things from men i worked with, from men higher and lower and even my husband on occasions. It still happens with less educated men. The main difference now, is how i react. I look at them for the idiots they are and once in a while i blow up, but usually i just consider the source. I was in the banking field. The females in my family admire me, but i dont get that same respect from the males.j.p.wms.

By: Mike Maus, Arvada, CO

Mike Maus, Arvada, CO — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:15:49 +0000

In response to the question at the end of your commentary, I would hope that “the band of acceptable behavior” is no narrower for women than it should be for men.

By: Beverly Mahone, Durham, NC

Beverly Mahone, Durham, NC — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:53:59 +0000

My male boss used to tell me women who BEHAVE don’t make history. I do believe women become more assertive—not less—as we age.