At
the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum,
150 women leaders from around the world gathered
to discuss the critical need for increased participation
of women as political, business and economic leaders
and the reasons for their dismal representation
today in these fields. Out of the nearly 3000 participants
present at the conference, only 10 percent are
women. Concurring that the World Economic Forum
mirrors the power structure of the world at large,
the women panelists stressed the need for more
participation by women in global affairs discussions
at the Forum.
"The
women's panel is not a part of the main agenda, it's
not even in the main hotel, Waldorf-Astoria," said
Barbara Walters, anchor of ABC News and moderator of
the Forum's Women leaders Initiative.
Other participants included former Secretary
of State Madeline Albright, Elaine Chao,
U.S. Secretary of Labor; Laura Tyson, Dean,
London Business School; Agnes Touraine, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Vivendi Universal
Publishing; and Vaira Vike Freiberga, President
of Latvia.
"We hope this will be the last meeting
of this type and next year there will be
many more women integrated in the main discussions,
and not just to talk about women's issues
but global issues," added Walters.
"Women contribute large portions to
the developing and developed world GNPs,"said
Albright. "And when women do participate
in political and economic affairs, it changes
the whole dimension of the country in terms
of education, health and security."
Elaine Chao announced that her department
had the highest percentage of women in top
policy jobs--50 percent. Some of the specific
questions addressed at the Forum's panel
on women were: Why are there so few women
running large businesses or countries? What
should the Forum do to increase the level
of participation of women? What should the
world expect from leaders in advancing women
and giving them a seat the table?
Donna Redel, one of the Managing Directors
at the Forum and the brains behind the Forum's
Initiative, said that setting it up was the
first step towards including an increasing
number of women on both plenary and workshop
sessions at the Forum's regional and annual
meetings. Redel was praised by some of the
panelists in bringing a certain passion to
the Forum in highlighting women's issues.
According to the Council of Women World
Leaders, there are currently nine women Heads
of State in the world, holding the titles
of President, Prime Minister or Premier.
In all of the 20th century there have been
no more than 60 women in such positions.
Vaira Vike Freiberga commented that being
a woman President attracts a lot of attention
for the wrong reasons.
"People always ask me what it is like
to be a woman President," she said. "My
answer to that is that it is like being a
woman and a President. Why should it feel
any different?"
If few women are in highest political leadership
positions, there are even fewer women leading
major corporations. In fact, women are running
just six of the Fortune 500 companies as
CEO. Even this number marks an improvement--just
five years ago it fluctuated between one
and two.
Agnes Touraine said that in order for companies
to keep their female talent they have to
address the barriers perceived by women.
Touraine pointed out that the issue is not
lack of women in the pipeline. The problem
is that women are in the wrong places in
the pipeline, and the pipeline leaks. In
order for women who want to lead companies,
they must have experience with the profit-and
loss side of business.
"Stereotypes
and preconceptions about women's abilities,
commitment and leadership
style have to be challenged for women to
rise to the top."
She also stressed that women's self-confidence
will be boosted when the myth of the 'superwoman'
is dispelled.
"There is a lot of insecurity in many
women of taking the risk to become a superwoman
to succeed at the top," she said. " To
aspire to be an ideal mother, an ideal leader
and an ideal partner is not easy."
Touraine said she was convinced that a majority
of women don't even attempt to climb to the
top of the ladder because of the fear of
giving up too much.
"When I interview a man, he says I
should have this job, because I am the best
person for it," Touraine said. "I
can very quickly climb to the top. When a
woman interviews, she questions me if she
will be able to make it to the top.
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