Wednesday, September 21, 2005

REVISED DEFINITIONS...

Forbes magazine has a list of the hundred 'most powerful' women in the world. Not surprisingly, after citing Condoleeza Rice as number one, the list has a smattering of women almost exclusively from business, politics, and entertainment.

While this is keeping quite in line with the current corporate culture and power politics scenario in the world, I do hope that in the year 2050 (possibly earlier!), such a list will include women who are making important scientific discoveries, who are making significant strides towards saving the environment, towards banning land mines, women who are leaders in HIV prevention, women who have started significant programs for general education and sex education of third world women, and women who are in the forefront of the fight against child labour and child abuse, among others. I do hope that we can revise our opinions about the ones who are seen as most 'powerful'. If the ones cited above seem significant for our present, it is the low profile ones, mostly working behind the scenes, who are going to save our future for us and our future generations. In the annals of world history, when we have become as ancient as the pyramids, they are the ones who will emerge as the most 'powerful' ones.

3 Comments:

Blogger hirak said...

I agree:
When they mean 'power', the subtext is manipulation or abuse of the privileged position. It not suprisingly that the power fields are politics, business and entertainment. Rarely do you see, or would like to see, scientists described as powerful.

7:58 AM  
Blogger Sumedha said...

I think most of the men I know (as friends) think the way you do about women in society; but not all of them write with such sincerity :)

12:15 PM  
Blogger Wavefunction said...

:)

8:12 AM  

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