Hi everyone! Coming from the other side of the world, I want to say what a joy it’s been waking up every morning to so many encouraging stories of women in science. I apologize if my post is overly serious compared with the optimistic, inspiring, and surprisingly whimsical posts by other women, but I work in politics, so pessimism sometimes creeps in :) I’m a conservation biologist who moved to Washington, DC to work on large-scale conservation projects, subsequently getting a job with the most powerful environmental policy actor in the United States: the U.S. Congress. “Environmental” in this case is purposefully broad-I have written or advised on legislation covering issues as diverse as biofuels, poaching, pesticide use, indigenous rights, invasive species, and climate change. As a staff member for a U.S. Representative, I experienced one of the most massively misogynistic cultures in the United States. At just 18% female representation in Congress, the U.S. is well behind much of the world. This lack of female perspective is reflected in weak institutional norms: women still make 73¢ to the dollar, childcare costs upwards of $30,000/year, women-along with children and minorities- are disproportionately harmed by pollution, and the U.S. is one of only four countries without paid maternity leave (along with Swaziland, Lesotho, and Papua New Guinea). As a 30 year-old woman who wants to have children, inadequate and unequal policy underscores my (sometimes debilitating) fears about balancing my career ambitions with motherhood, and protecting the health of my children from pervasive pollution. Because of my role in writing, debating, and passing laws, I have a passionate belief that a world of equal gender representation in government is a REQUIREMENT in order to advance women’s rights and environmental protection. To do my small part in fighting for this world, I sit on the board of an organization that empowers women to become leaders in the environmental field. Men are incredulous when they are excluded from our events, but we take our mission of creating a safe, cooperative, and supportive space for women to gain career skills and strengthen their voices very seriously. I see Homeward Bound as a critical global piece of this same mission. I am excited and heartened by the opportunity to help build an international community of scientific women who can call on each other for support and guidance in their careers and personal lives, and help build a movement for greater equality and action!
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 00:35:43 +0000
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