Editor, Times-Union: I write this letter in response to the editorial written by Don Kaiser in the June 3rd issue of the Times-Union.
As a 21-year-old female college student, I take issue with comments made by Mr. Kaiser regarding "A Girl's Dream." According to his letter, to hold a position of any weight, power or prestige, one needs to be a man. The attitude expressed here conveys that women are judged on their sex rather than on their performance.
Why should it be so "fascinating" that any girl should want to be president; be that of the country, large company or any other position where she is doing a job using her mind and making decisions instead of taking orders? I was one of those little girls who wanted to be president some day. I am a 21-year-old female college student majoring in anthropology. As of now, I haven't quite decided just how I will use my degree, but I am thinking about becoming a medical anthropologist.
I am so thankful for parents who encouraged me to believe in myself. I never believed in a glass ceiling or that women were confined to working for men. I was taught that I could choose whatever honest job would make me happy and content.
How far have we come with the equality of the sexes if we tell girls that it is good to have dreams; however, they should always keep in mind that - "no man in (any) profession wants a woman for a boss?"
Why is it that women are still judged on their gender rather than on a job performance? It seems quite the contradiction to say it isn't right for teachers and kids to step on this girl's dream, and then go on to say it isn't worth fighting for that dream since she is female.
We still have to fight twice as hard to prove our worth - not only to everyone around us, but also to ourselves as we struggle with the fact that the many people can't handle women in powerful positions.
The political leaders who will someday be working under this girl should (if they are doing their job correctly) be making decisions for the people and not for men only. It seems very small and petty to argue about the sex of the person allowed to make decisions - rather than the decisions themselves.
Women are starting to wake up to the fact that it is no longer right to be pigeonholed into a select number of positions. We are past the time when nurse, secretary and teacher are our only choices. It is sad and disappointing to know that there are still people out there who say that women can pursue any career they wish - as long as they remember that men come first.
As far as the men who worked under Ms. Stevenson, if they felt they shouldn't be taking orders from a woman in a higher position - what was stopping them from having that job themselves? Could it be that this woman was the best person for that job?
So to all the little girls out there who dream big dreams: don't ever let any person tell you that you are less because you are who you are - and remember that you can become the best person to fill whatever station you choose in life - whether that be a mother, electrical engineer or anything else you dream to become.
