Leadership.
Do white men want it more than anyone else?
In some ways, that’s at the heart of a lawsuit involving white firefighters that ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court last week.
In 2003, the New Haven Fire Department had a number of open lieutenant and captain positions. Firefighters applying for the promotions were given three months to prepare for oral and written exams.
When the results of the tests came it it turned out that no black firefighters scored high enough for the promotion. As a result, the city threw out the tests because they determined they were bias.
As you can imagine, the predominately white firefighters who passed the test were pissed off. They sued, claiming that they’re civil rights had been violated.
In news reports last week, many of the white firefighters stressed how they studied long and hard, inferring that their colleagues may not have been as diligent.
The Supreme Court justices seemed divided over the case, but one comment from conservative Justice Antonin Scalia really made me think:
“You had some applicants who were winners and their promotion was set aside.”
Winners?
Did the white men who passed the exams want to win more than the black men? Or were these biased tests?
That’s the dispute in a nutshell.
It got me thinking more globally about why we continue to see a lack of minorities and women in leadership roles.
What if it’s because we don’t want it as much?
I neighbor asked me something this weekend that got me thinking about the firefighters.
She’s researching a paper about women and equality for school and she wondered why despite the Women’s Movement and affirmative action programs, women still have not achieved universal equality.
How much do we blame ourselves?
Recently several women from my teen years friended me on Facebook. I was disheartened to see how many of them never pursued any type of career or vocation, and were proud to write about how they spent their days shopping.
And I’ve often heard women say they don’t think women make good leaders.
I’m not being naive here. I know the system has been skewed against women and minorities for a long time. I know there are tests out there that favor certain groups over others.
But should there be some thought given to personal responsibility, to whether or not we want it enough?
While we spend endless hours reading leadership books and attending leadership conferences, maybe part of the discussion should be about desire.
If suddenly the playing field were even for everyone involved would we all be ready to take the field?
– Katherine Guiney contributed research to this post
April 27th, 2009 at 10:39 am
From what I’ve read on the firefighter test situation, there are other minorities in senior positions in the fire department across the city. I’m not claiming that to be any answer, but it does seem to dim the cries of those who claim that this particular test result is due to bias in the instrument (unless the current instrument is different than the one used previously).
April 27th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I know I did not “take the field”. I turned down management positions so that I could cut back to part-time and be home for my kids after school. I’m a female software engineer, and yes, there are few of us and even fewer managers. But, I’m quite happy with my decision and the lifestyle it’s afforded me. Does that mean women don’t make good leaders? No. It just means that some of us prefer not to be, and therefore do lack desire.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
The way I see it, is that more women need to have the desire, or maybe the system the way it’s structured has to change so you can be a leader and still handle family issues. I’m not sure. But it makes me sad to hear that even one woman doesn’t have that desire. I know we can’t all be leaders, but leadership can take so many forms, and it can happen when someone is in their 30s, or in their 60s. Wouldn’t it be incredible if a large group of women in their 60s, after children are grown and gone, head for Washington?
April 28th, 2009 at 8:51 am
Eve, would it sadden you if even one man didn’t have the desire? Not everyone wants to be a leader. Some just want to put in their time and earn their keep–I’ve known plenty of them (and, strangely enough, mostly men).
I know your blog is career focused, but is it not possible to conceive of someon who may not be interested in a career? When I began working, I had no conception of a career. I had jobs–some good ones at times–but, for the longest time, I never thought of my work life as anything but a job (the source of a paycheck).
Although I would classify myself in a career today, it’s something that grew out of my interests and my experimentation in the marketplace. I never intended to pursue this career, though it has well suited me over the years.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:05 am
‘'’ Wouldn’t it be incredible if a large group of women in their 60s, after children are grown and gone, head for Washington?”’
What are you talking about? Nancy don’t dance no mo’. And the DHS Lady never did. What you are saying has already came to pass and is passing on again.
Who ever heard of Jean Kirkpatrick before she was in her 50’s. I did and I admired her long before her UN ambassadorship. I knew her son Stuart very well and he became a Buddhist monk. As much as this statement sounds like it is coming from a ‘Male’ pig, Mrs. Kirkpatrick excelled after her children were older. Prior to this, she was an articulate , whining mother who cooked poorly. As a scholar, she was incredible. Her husband was not the intellectual she was. However, he was her partner and together they were poor parents. I guess what I am saying is what I know from experience. you are a parent 24/7. If you are not, then you are not a good parent.
Sarah Palin may be just one exception. However, I sincerely doubt her experience would be as productive in Washington as it apparently is in Alaska.
Women most assuredly belong in our government at every level. However, a childless or unmarried woman would do a far better job.