Women for Change Week started off Monday with a speaker panel that sought to answer the question of whether or not we are ready for a female president.
For the next week, the UCLA community will be hosting a series of events that seek to highlight the achievements and the social and political issues facing women today.
“Considering the context of the upcoming presidential election, we thought it would be interesting to explore the question of women in a leadership role,” said Roxanne Neal, a member of the UCLA Women For Change Week Committee.
The speaker panel, which consisted of female members of the UCLA faculty, speculated on the political and social contexts of women today running for office and the different aspects which could impact the public’s opinion of a woman presidential candidate such as Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.
“If there were a different woman running (for president), or if there were more women running, would we be more likely to vote for them?” asked panel member Ronnie Sanlo, director of the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Resource Center.
The question sparked a discussion between the panelists and the audience about the presence of women in leadership roles that ranged from gender issues, to generational differences, to social factors.
“The women that are running (for office) now came from a time when there was less opportunity. In today’s generation, the talent pool is larger,” said panel member Susanne Lohmann, a professor of political science and public policy.
Therefore, it may become easier for women to run for office in the future, Lohmann added.
She also added that, over the past several decades, willingness to vote for people of different backgrounds has increased.
However, panel members also noted that there are underlying social factors that play a role in the prominence of women in leadership roles.
“The main obstacle (facing women) has to do with the family and domestic expectations, and the lack of support for child care (in this country),” said panel member Ruth Bloch, a professor of history. “This is a huge problem for women in their 30s and 40s, when the real progress into positions of leadership is made.”
As the week continues, the campus will play host to various women’s awareness events, including workshops, conferences, and exhibits.
Throughout the week, Kerckhoff Art Gallery will serve as an artistic forum, displaying the artwork of UCLA students, faculty and staff, with the goal of bringing to attention both art by women and art that discusses women’s issues, according to the Women for Change Week Web site.
“The goal of the week is to raise awareness about women’s issues in our culture and on our campus, and to celebrate women who have accomplished great things,” Neal said.