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On September 11, 2008, I was part of a roundtable discussion on the topic of "Women in the Campaign" organized by the Tennessean – the big daily newspaper in Nashville.
Seven of us, women from different backgrounds and political persuasions were asked to put politics aside and simply talk about how we’re responding to the high profile women are taking in this presidential election, including some potential historic "firsts" for women -- either the first African-American first lady or the first woman VP.
The hour long discussion filmed at the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and moderated by Gail Kerr, a long-time columnist on the newspaper focused on how these strong women – Sarah Palin, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Cindy McCain -- are being received and what kind of image they're cultivating before the public.
How have they opened up conversations about the role of women in 2008 -- work-life balance, putting family in the public spotlight and putting teen pregnancy in the limelight?
It was an interesting and lively conversation and an hour flew by. The roundtable was streamed live online at Tennessean.com and the journalists who organized the forum have produced an edited excerpts video for general viewing. The link is attached for your information.
Excerpts of the forum will be published in an article in the Tennessean on Sunday, September 14, 2008.
I enjoyed the experience and met a diverse group of women who raised some good points on a number of issues. The 15 minutes excerpts video doesn’t do justice to the number of issues covered, but you get the gist.
After watching the video, a New Zealand friend of mine who lives in the United Kingdom commented on how surprised she is that such conversations are new to Americans and long overdue. And she pointed out that the UK had its first female leader in Margaret Thatcher almost 30 years ago and New Zealand has had two female Prime Ministers for the past 11 years.
Are these conversations long overdue in the public arena? Are we way behind other developed countries when it comes to women in politics and the whole spectrum of family-work-life balance? Will the high profile of women in this election cycle help women’s situations in general and in the future?
I’d be happy to hear any thoughts you have after you watch the clip.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=VIDEONETWORK
SUSAN S.CHEUNG
POSTSCRIPT: Here is the full article published in the Tennessean on September 14, 2008.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/NEWS0206/809140361&s=d&page=#pluckcomments
