Bolen’s experience affirms that the qualifications to
Values Women Bring to the Table
forward change come naturally to women. These include the
ability to manage resources, resolve conflicts, work collab-
Working together collaboratively is one
oratively, ask questions, listen and learn from the experience
of the distinguishing qualities that women
of others, and act with compassion for the benefit of all,
bring to the workplace. “Women encour-
including generations to come.
age others to be involved in the decision-
In the eyes of Linda Tarr-Whelan, author of Women
making process and view consensus as an
Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping Up to Leadership and
important element in reaching a decision,”
Changing the World, women like those in Mothers Acting
observes Gravitz.
Alisa Gravitz
Up, who organize on the grassroots level in their communi-
Her list of other proven traits that
ties and beyond, are change agents for a better future. She
women bring to the arena of green activism includes: a holis-
points to research conducted by Rutgers University’s Center
tic and integrative approach to problem solving; compassion,
for American Women and Politics, which demonstrates the
that translates into a sincere interest in people; and a more
benefits of empowering women in leadership capacities.
encompassing view of stakeholders’ return on investment.
“Women make a decided
“Women ask questions not
difference when they come to
just because they want to know
constitute 30 percent of a board of
Women are able to effect a
the story of the human being
directors, executive management,
behind the investment,” advises
political body or any organization,”
difference in how events unfold
Gravitz, “but, because they care
notes Tarr-Whelan, a former ambas- when they comprise 30 percent
about more than the return on the
sador and U.S. representative to the
of any organization—that’s
dollar.”
United Nations’
“Women are socialized to
Commission
the tipping point. be listeners and view things rela-
on the Status
tionally,” adds Dr. Linda Stillman,
of Women during the Clinton adminis-
a specialist in cultural commu-
tration. “Only then does the dialogue
nication, interpersonal relations and gender issues. She also
change; only then do women’s voices get
served as the permanent UN Nongovernmental Organization
heard and their ideas acted upon. Until
(NGO) representative for Soroptimist International, a vol-
we reach this tipping point, all of us have
unteer international women’s organization for international
Linda Tarr-Whelan
good reason to be concerned about the
women’s issues.
missing priorities, qualities, talents and
Stillman observes that women tend
experience that women can contribute.”
to approach leadership through their
relationships. “Women converse to build
Accomplishments Despite Uneven Odds connections and seek multiple options
Examples abound of what women’s representation in elected
before reaching decisions or taking ac-
office can achieve. In the United States, women-friendly
tion,” she explains. This behavior re-
policies have been written into national legislation ever since
flects a more democratic and cautious
they began winning congressional seats, tackling such issues
approach to doing business, as recently
Dr. Linda Stillman
as violence against women, child support, welfare, equal
highlighted in a Washington Post article on
wages and unemployment benefits.
the banking industry’s missing gender bal-
Yet, today, women account for only 17 percent of
ance. It led: “The first rumblings of a gender revolution are
Congress’ 535 seats. During the last decade, our country has
underway in an industry long controlled by men.”
lost ground in women’s political representation, plummeting
from 47th in the world to 71st, behind Iraq (33rd), the Demo-
Cultivating Long-term Perspective
cratic People’s Republic of Korea (57th) and Sudan (65th).
In an organization like Holistic Moms Network (HMN),
Rwanda recently made global history when it became the
founded by a handful of mothers who yearned for the sup-
first nation electing more women than men to parliament.
port and friendship of others parenting outside the main-
The staff and board of directors of Green America
stream, gender balance might be unexpected. Yet, according
(formerly Co-Op America), a nonprofit organization deploy-
to founder Nancy Massotto, the nonprofit’s 120 chapters
ing the power of the marketplace to solve social and envi-
across the United States and Canada counts many supportive
ronmental problems, is now beyond the 30 percent tipping
fathers as members.
point. Women comprise 70 percent of its board of directors.
Massotto, who jokes that her “Type A” personality
Executive Director Alisa Gravitz has been nurturing her
helped her master the mountains of work required to take
activism and leadership talents since collaborating with her
HMN from an Essex County, New Jersey network to a non-
8th-grade classmates to organize a recycling center and envi-
profit organization crisscrossing North America, remarks, “I
ronmental education classes in the 1970s.
don’t easily shy away from challenges; I am a holistic mom,
“I realized early on that when you work together, you
who birthed my children at home, breastfed and raised them
can do anything,” quips Gravitz.
on organic food. Thus, this work is almost a calling.”
May 2009 37
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