Op-Ed by Dolores Reed – Early in the year of 1980, as President of the local Women’s Democratic Club, I attended a meeting of the National Women’s Democratic Club. Women from out West had always impressed me with their advancement and leadership, real leadership roles, in party activities.  I was encouraged to seek the local Congressional Seat.  While discussing local activity to seek a candidate, I was asked why I didn’t run the race.

I had not given such an activity a thought. Their response was “Now that you have thought about it, you’re going to go home and tell them you will be the candidate!” Then they passed the hat raising little more that $100. In 1980, that was a good start and in 1980 that was really special!  Women were supporting women, they knew the importance of money and were willing to put it on the line.

In 1980 women, began giving up supportive roles and moving onto center stage. That was the year woman first graduated from Military Academies and the watershed year for Women Candidates. Women had learned about teamsmanship!

I believe that was the missing ingredient for women. Guys are raised in teams – all of the guys sports activities require teamwork – teams of men. Guys  grow up playing games and sports with other guys in teams.  So when they grow up and seek running mates or prospective candidates, they look to the guys.

When they look for someone to make cookies or telephone calls who do they look to? Women! Women bake cookies (recall Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro being asked by her opponent, “Can you bake a cake?) Who better to arrange meeting places and activities, bake the cookies and serve the coffee? The women! Finally in 1980 boys and girls grew up to become women and men on an equal basis.

Now, ten years into the new century, women have come a long way. Women are stepping up, and other women are supporting them.  However, politics, as is leadership in business, few women take the bull by the horns and very few women support those that do.  Why is that?

On the average, there has not been that much change in the raising of boys and girls. However, I do believe woman in the military made possible many changes in attitudes among the minority (meaning women). I know my own experiences in the military taught me a great deal about team work. I have spoken about this same subject to many men and women. Women do believe it makes a difference in their thinking. While men are still considering the possibility.

While the world seems to be changing, in small local communities you will still find the first search for candidates  is to the guys.

Men still manage to be the leaders and women are still oriented to be supportive. The old adage of wanting the guy to be the leader in life’s affairs, still inadvertently finds its way into major community, business, organizational and governmental leadership.  As long as the woman is the one to give birth, they will always be seen as the leader of Families. Some day the world will understand – Motherhood translates nicely into leadership in communities. Community leadership was where my political life began.

First in our community organization, next when the children went to school, in the Mother’s Club. One day I was asked to make a statement before a Session of the State Assembly and Senate.  I was one of very few women in the group. The men holding that hearing were so rude and insulting to those who were testifying, all men, it got my Irish up!

When it was my turn, following my thanks for the opportunity (which incidentally, no speaker before me did), I abandoned my original opening statement and chastised them for such rudeness. Before I got much further, that whole audience raised up and cheered what I said. The Assemblymen and Senators apologized to the audience. On that day, my trip into politics became a certainly, while never having  been a thought.

During a discussion at New York State’s Girl’s State in 1980, I took a mini-nonscientific poll. To the question, “How many of you aspire to go to college?” Every hand went up.”

Then I asked, “How many of you intend to marry, become wives and mothers?”  Again all hands went up!

“How many of you intend, maybe study law and to go into politics?” I heard nothing but giggles.

Twenty years before the change of the century. they had come half way, aspiring college, maybe some degree of professionalism, but still thoughts were mainly about Marriage and Motherhood, not leadership. Yet, go back many centuries to women of the Wild West, who took care of the household while the guys sought meat for Supper? At that time, taking care of the household meant shooting Indians and other raiders, chopping wood, and who know what else, while the Man of the house was out doing other things. Even so, in those times, women’s roles were considered supportive.

Here we are, now into the second decade of the twenty first century, (or twentieth if that is how you count it) Women are moving into leadership roles! Do other women support them? Its only been two thousand years, it takes time. Women have moved forward. They  are beginning to understand the impediments. New roles provide for new opportunities. Things change slowly, but they do change. Women like Geraldine Ferraro, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Generals and Admirals are all creating new molds.

If a man can have it all, why can’t a woman. Now in the next century, although few, woman have learned, they too can have both!.