Commentaries

From The "Glass Ceiling" to Quicksand
Description
The history of women in the labor force over the past 60 years has taken several important turns. The educational barriers that stopped women from progressing up the corporate and government ladders are being erased. A key component of the “Glass Ceiling” that has prevented women from taking leadership positions in many fields is now being erased across the economic landscape of this country. One might also find some reason for optimism that in general the barriers to women reaching the highest levels in the professional ranks are also coming down. This article explores the new reasons why women are not progressing rapidly into the leadership ranks in the field of health care.

PDF: From The "Glass Ceiling" to Quicksand

Word: From The "Glass Ceiling" to Quicksand

Mission Accomplished: The New Values Equation for Professional Women
Description
Increasingly experienced women professionals are declaring that their mission is accomplished. Newly liberated women professionals in their 50's and 60's have declared success and left their professional workplace to seek their own fulfillment. Having struggled through raising families and maintaining careers as part of the vanguard of feminists who paved the way for the large numbers of young female professionals, female lawyers, doctors, and successful professionals are moving out of the office and on to create new lives distinct from their professional existence. This article explores the reasons for this transition and argues for change in the workplace as a way to foster continued professional satisfaction for women.

PDF: Mission Accomplished: The New Values Equation for Professional Women

Word: The New Values Equation for Professional Women

The Status of Women at Harvard University: A Letter to Harvard University President Lawrence Summers
Description
This letter was in written in response to President Summer's widely reported comments questioning the ability of women in science and technology. It argues that Harvard should take strong action to address fundamental work changes necessary to allow women to have full professional and personal lives. Though President Summers did not take up the offer to have Dr. Pincus join his administration, many of the other ideas are included in the recommendations of his appointed task forces (see www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2005/05/16).

Word: Letter to President Lawrence Summers, Feb. 4, 2005