When powerful women meet: sexism or smart move
Coming to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit in Dana Point, Calif., this week, I have to admit I had somewhat mixed feelings. On one hand, just being invited — I’m here to moderate a panel on (what else?) Gen Y — is amazing. Just look at the list of former attendees: Oprah, Billie Jean King, Queen Noor, not to mention a who’s who of Fortune 500 CEOs. On the other, though, is the matter of what events like this, and the lists that accompany them — in this case, the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business — actually convey. For instance, one argument against comparable lists for minorities is of course that not many people want to be congratulated for succeeding despite being a minority. And some contend that being on a list of important minorities, as opposed to a list of just plain important people, can seem to say just that. Couldn’t one say the same about women’s lists and the like?
Maybe. Especially as Gen Yers, at least anecdotally, become increasingly gender-blind. But after having been here for a day, I think I’m going to stick with the amazing feeling. And not just because I’ve been starstruck (though I have been) or inspired (though I’ve been that, too). But because I was chatting with a very senior woman from one of the world’s largest corporations about my mixed feelings last night, and without a moment’s hesitation, she told me I was missing the point. As young girls, she said, we have our girlfriends. As college kids, maybe it’s our sorority sisters. But what do you have when you’re head of a global corporation? The corporate ranks aren’t exactly teeming with potential BFFs of the same level. So the creation and reinforcement of that support network happens through events like this summit.
Will there always need to be a women’s list as well? Maybe not. Maybe the day will come when a list of the most powerful people in business will be all that’s necessary because it’ll include — naturally, without quotas or lobbying — just as many women as men. But watching these women hug, catch up, and talk shop last night, I can’t imagine the summit going anywhere. As another exec put it, discussing life at the top: The men have golf with their buddies, and we have this — with our girlfriends.
What about you? Does this all make sense, or is this kind of women’s programming outdated or worse?
I admire the women for coming together to support one another of like minds and position in society. However, if this was a girlfriend tea party (i.e. no men) that is what makes it sexist. Golf was not intended for a corporate environment but simply a sport that people enjoy (men and women). Building friendships on the 9th hole was only an after thought while playing the game.
These individuals should be given honors for running a company successfully not for being a women a the top. In retrospect, where are those women who are working for top companies and suffering poor performance? In short, what is the criteria to be member; good and bad golfers can play on the same course.
Again, here we go with we (women) have to have something to match the men. I have worked for both at the executive level. Can’t we all just get along…it’s about the bottom line at the end of the day. I believe they are special as human beings not because they are women.
This type of gender programming can be just as dangerous as the longstanding over enforcement abuse that Title IX has caused in collegiate athletics. Although we may have needed to force gender equity at the starting point in the mid 70’s now opportunities are being taken away to satisfy strict gender quotas.
Although these women need to be celebrated for their hard work and importance in the industry of today, the same type of activity by men would be deemed as sexist. If its sexist for one gender, it must be the same for the other.
Gen Y, X, Baby Boomer etc. have all become more accustomed to work performance and advancement being based on just that…performance. There should no longer be a requirement for race, religion or sex to shade ones performance record from the spotlight. Either you perform or you dont. If you dont you can be fired…sadly this is not the case, as the other issues must always be brought into consideration in our tort minded society.
I have worked for many successful women, and I admire them not for their gender, but rather for their ability to lead. If they are the head of a corporation such as Pepsi Co, or Ebay then they deserve to be on the most influential list in business. And there is no denying the presence and impact of Oprah.
Nadira, the blog has been excellent at times and enfuriating at others. Gen Y should not need BFF’s and 
to legitimize itself in the workplace. It needs to perform just like every generation before it. And although the Boomers are in the drivers seat of industry, it was only 20 years ago that they were frustrated middle management trying to prove themselves under the oppressive thumb and expectations of the “greatest generation.”
I think that your blog scores big when focusing on how to improve the work life of a 20 something employee in corporate america, I would focus on that, and leave all of the diversification and politics out of the blog, because it only takes away from what every gen Y employee wants…to be recognized for their contributions and performance and not their gender, race, religion, school or parental upbringing.
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What started as a quirky Fortune cover story on Generation Y in 2007 has turned into a full-time job covering the fastest growing segment of the American workforce for Nadira A. Hira. But it's on The Gig that she's been able to speak directly to the much discussed, much maligned, and she thinks, very much underestimated Yers themselves, reflecting with them on everything from finding meaningful work to hiding meaningful body art. Herself a Yer, Hira has always been interested in engaging her peers, from her time writing for MTV News' Choose or Lose 2004 campaign, to her work spreading the Gen Y story as a speaker and television personality, from CNN to VH1 and back again. A recipient of the NewsBios 30 Under 30 award, showcasing business journalists on the rise, the would-be poet, sometime bartender, and professional sports fan, calls downtown Manhattan — and The Gig — home.
Its nice to celebrate the achievement of Women in the corporate world, but do we do the same for men who have being doing this, why are men taken for granted. After all The accusation of men displaying gender discrimination is currently running thin as people in corporate America are judged on performance. So kudos to the Men and Women who make corporate america tick.