Female President of Harvard Breaches Gender ‘Roles’

By: Brittany Lyon
Posted In: News

Four women are now presidents of Ivy League universities, yet there are still pop princesses who insist on flashing the world and others who claim women are less capable of succeeding in math and science.

The recent selection of Drew Gilpin Faust as the first female present of Harvard University suggests that women today are asserting in business and education. Gilpin Faust, a Civil War Historian and former dean has made her own history through her naming, yet even in her acceptance speech she made clear that she is the president of Harvard University, not the female president. Now that a female will be doing the work for a male dominated position, Gilpin Faust’s selection raises awareness to the different leadership styles of men and women.

For Mary Connolly, a member of the Newport City Council, men and women do differ in the ways of getting the same job done.

“A woman comes with a sensitivity.There is a gentling factor,” said Connolly. Women are able to see the many angles of a problem.

“I never believed I had to imitate or be like man to get things done. I take a different approach, but I still get the same things done,” says Connolly. She says that men and women are equally qualified for council positions, yet their roles differ greatly.

Throughout the year Connolly asserts that she has always believed a woman should never have to prove herself for an authoritative position. A former special education professor at Salve Regina University, Connolly was born and raised in Newport. Connolly says she has “never [seen] a barrier for a woman.” She has always seen herself as an equal.

“I never thought I didn’t have it in me.Although for some women it’s like climbing the walls with boiling water coming down.”

Gender aside, Connolly asserts that the new Harvard President is extraordinarily qualified for the position.

“Women today are more assertive. They are less reluctant to state how wonderful they are.”

Dr. Walter Harper, a professor of sociology at Salve Regina University, also believes that, regardless of her gender, Drew Gilpin Faust is the right person for the job. The school will remain under the same principles of previous leadership, yet the difference of having a woman is a chance for Harvard to show society their views on women. Dr. Harper also notes that in recent years more women are now enrolled in universities and professional schools than men. Although more women are being educated Harper points out the extremes of women in today’s society. On the one hand a woman has been named the president of the nation’s oldest university, while also noting influences on young women such as Britney Spears and a Barbie of the 90’s that said, “Math is hard.”

“There have always been educated women, the question is where do they go?” In a society where more and more women are being educated and in places of authority, it now becomes the responsibility of Faust to lead the University into the 21st century.

Mary Sokolowski, the head of government relations at Salve Regina University, speaks of the subtle societal constraints that women still face today. Women have more opportunities. Sokolowski speaks of her young nieces, and how their lives as young women will be dramatically different.

“Young girls grow up in a profoundly different world,” she says. “They may not want to be jocks, but they’ll have the opportunity to, if they want it,” Sokolowski says.

While there have been vast improvements on women’s rights, Sokolowski nevertheless finds women as having to prove themselves for doing the same job as a man.

In her office is a picture of Sokolowski with Hilary Clinton. She describes Clinton as caring and exceedingly intelligent, not stern and cold-hearted. Sokolowski points out that if a man were taking the same approach as Clinton, these same adjectives would not be used to describe him. A man would be expected to be tough, but women have to verify their strength.

“Women have to prove they are tough, but it’s a double edged sword, they cannot act too tough,” Sokolowski says.

Robin Hoffman, the chair of the Administrative Justice Department, also states that women bring a different approach to the way they lead. She heads the male dominated department, and with it she brings her sensitive side. She has a box of Kleenex and bowl of candy on her desk for students because, “sometimes they do come in and cry,” said Hoffman. Her emotional understanding is one of the reasons why Hoffman proclaims that she loves being a woman. Although she does acknowledge that women have to negate apart of themselves in order to achieve that pinnacle.

“People are competent regardless of their gender,” Hoffman says.

Drew Gilpin Faust has put women’s leadership styles in the spotlight and although she has made her way to the top, she has not reached her pinnacle. Much more will come from her and from the many other women who have come into their own as leaders. In a modern society where women are bombarded with images of pop culture, Sokolowski encourages young women, “never underestimate the power of role models.”