The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : What stops women from becoming leaders?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

What stops women from becoming leaders?

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 7. Though women are on a par with men educationally and have leadership qualities, women leaders among professionals are few and far between. What comes in the way of women becoming leaders?

This was the focus of discussion at a meeting organised by the Departments of Biotechnology and Physics of Mother Teresa Women's University here.

Anandhavalli Mahadevan, Vice-Chancellor, said enrolment of women in higher education was increasing fast, except in professional courses. Women had a major social obligation of rearing children and family and a part of their lives was dedicated to fulfilling this responsibility.

Hence, society should compensate them. Emerging technologies favoured women's development and it was for them to make full use of the opportunity.

"Wherever you are, you can contribute. Women can contribute in a holistic way."

She said women should shed their basic inhibition and take up challenges. They should equip themselves with skills and network among themselves, particularly among professionals, to further develop their talent.

The three Bs

Inaugurating the meeting, `Promoting women leadership among professionals', Sarasa Bharathi Arumugam, chairman, Research Committee, International Institute of Cardio-Thoracic Diseases, said women constituted 49 per cent of the total world population, but they were responsible for the remaining 51 per cent too. Women needed the three Bs — bravery, boldness and brilliance.

The objectives of the one-day programme included identification of challenges and hurdles women leaders faced in their profession, developing ways to overcome obstacles and evolving strategies to enhance leadership qualities and skills of women.

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