The recipe for a powerful woman

[T_i_B]

The full title of the article is "The recipe for a powerful woman: Live in the US, work in business and go into politics". Sounds like the recipe for a lot of powerful men too if you ask me.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article302518.ece

If Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful women is to be credited, any women desiring to make their mark would be advised to head to America. Condoleezza Rice for the second time in a row came top of a list that this year has a staggering 66 Americans. Britain and France follow in the national stakes, with a comparably meagre four entries each.

Although the top four places are awarded to government officials, it appears that the corporate ladder is the most rewarding career in the power stakes; the list includes 13 company chairwomen and 13 chief executives. Other labels include president (five), prime minister (four), Nobel Laureate (two) and queen (two).

Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democratic contender for president who was number five on last year's list, is ranked 26th this year. Laura Bush, First Lady who was number four last year, is now back in 46th place.

The top businesswoman is the eBay chief executive, Margaret Whitman, in fifth place.

[sweetheart]

1. its a list by the patriarchy (forbes)

They would not know a powerful women if she bit them. Rather they've
defined this as women who succeed as men, but not using the greater
range of complexity which would actually define feminist power.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Exactly!

You nailed it.

[WePurrsevere]

4. You said... "using the greater range of complexity...

which would actually define feminist power".

That's an intersting statement. What parameters would you use to "define feminist power"?

Using those parameters who would your "Top 100 Most Powerful Women" be (or even top 20)?

[sweetheart]

9. What defines feminist power

Certainly raising a well balanced human being child in our modern society
would class as a first rate miracle, let alone a feminist achievement...
one that is underrated entirely.

But i see feminism as more something defined by what it "isn't". The
very process of definition is patriarchal, to identify knowledge and
the powerful; to create pecking orders, rather than circles of
goodwill.

In basketball, they have a category "assists", and i see feminist power
tremendously intertwined with "assists", where people around said person
are tremendously successful in their lives, by following and trusting
their hearts, and all of this inspired by feminist will.

So who is a powerful feminist.? Arundati roy? Indira Singh? Barbara
Boxer? Judi Dench? Glenn Close? Meryl Streep? Ann Richards?
DU's Eloriel? But as feminism is intertwined with hidden, undefined
things, i expect that it will all manifest differently, through
different channels... word of mouth or grass roots if you will.

The entire frame and paradigm is patriarchal, a frame change will be more
than simply creating a new pecking order, but re-defining in feminist
terms what makes a successful life.

[DBoon]

7. Women who succeed being married to powerful men

Would Laura Bush have amounted to anything apart from her marriage?

And with all respect for Hillary Clinton's intelligence and ambition, being married to a former president has certainly upped her standing.

Your comment is correct - I think what Forbes is doing is even narrower than the point you are making.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[mbee]

5. Proof positive they talk out of both sides of their mouth. What

happened to their mantra that women should not work?

[Straight Shooter]

6. All kinds of power in this world.

I am powerful in my own right, and would never exchange my power for the power that Kindasleezy Rice has. A friend of mine is a Buddhist and definitely has the power of self-discipline, a trait which not enough people have anymore and certainly not in the corridors of the White House.

Forbes is confusing genuine power with the superficial power of material success and being in control of other people's lives.

[fshrink]

8. Women in power is different from powerful women.

Very different indeed. But the media never fails doing its ideological job.