According to Lawless and Fox, “women are also less likely than men to consider running for high-level positions” (Lawless and Fox, 2010, pg46). The question is why? Why are women less likely than men to consider running for high-level positions? In the article “why women still can’t have it all”, Anne-Marie Slaughter clearly states, “Women can “have it all” (and that men can too). I believe that we can “have it all at the same time.” But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured.” The problem is that we constantly hear similar comments such as the one made by Slaughter. I think Slaughter should be empowering instead of discouraging women from running for high-level positions. The reason I disagree with Slaughter is because I believe that women can still succeed. Even though we might face more obstacles compared to men, I still believe in the American values that hard work pays off.
With that said, I would like to talk about an experience that helped me realize that “women can have it all”. This semester I am interning in the U.S House of Representatives and I’ve been lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to attend some amazing events. The other day I went to a women’s event on Capitol Hill, where three of the Supreme Court justices were being celebrated along with several other successful women such as minority leader Nancy Pelosi. Being there and seeing these women reaching political ambition levels makes me believe that it is possible to have it all. These women are examples that impossible is nothing, and that the idea that America is the land of opportunity is still a reality for those who are willing to work hard.
I believe America is still a country where both men and women, poor and rich, young and old can be successful even with the current way America’s economy and society are structured. I agree with Sheryl Sandberg, I think the problem lies in the small number of women that are making it to the top. According to Kantor, in the article a titan’s How-to on breaking the glass ceiling” Sandberg believes that the problem is that women tend to hold themselves back instead of leaning in. Sandberg stated, “We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.”
I definitely agree with Sandberg, we need more women to lean in and sit at the table, meaning we need more women in congress, in the senate, and in corporate and executive positions. It may be harder for women to manage work and a family at the same time, but walking in the halls of congress and seeing female congressional representatives makes me believe that it is possible. I was very much offended by Slaughters point of view because she is sending a negative message to women like myself who aspire to have both a career and a family. In the book It still takes a candidate, the author states, “Given relatively equal proportions of credentialed women and men, and regardless of the fact that women are just as likely as men to win elections, men are nearly twice as likely as women to hold elected office” (Lawless and Fox, 2010, pg56). This is exactly why Sheryl Sandberg believes “leaning in” is a very important factor in ones individuals succes
