Tuesday, September 26, 2006

2898 The most powerful women

The Sept. 15 issue [I think that was the date] of Forbes features a story on the 100 most powerful women. I was somewhat dismayed to see that Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Meredith Viera were listed. Shouldn't they be on the celebrities list? I mean, gosh, they read the news from teleprompters! The U.S. only got 53 slots and 3 go to celebrity news readers? They don't create anything, not even money like Oprah does (she's justifiably on the list). And Melinda Gates? She married well. Laura Bush at least helped George be a success with some tough love; I think Bill Gates made it with little help from Melinda, no matter what she thinks about malaria (and I personally think she's wrong).

So I checked Google to see who was on the list of the 100 most powerful men, or even most powerful people, but there wasn't such a list. I wanted to see if Charlie Gibson or Matt Laurer made it, or any spouses besides Kerry and McCain whose political careers would be toast if they hadn't married money.

There are 4 Israeli, 2 Indian, and 7 black women (from various countries); no Canadians. 30 are in government and 48 run corporations. I question that Hugh Hefner's daughter should be on the list--surely there are more important women in publishing.

Incidentally, all things being equal, women earn as much or more than men. Single woman without children earn more than single men without children; and any woman working 80 hour weeks, willing to travel and relocate and have absolutely no life other than work, with a supportive spouse, gets the same compensation or better. See this Forbes article It seems that women have different career goals than men. Huddathunkit.





1 comment:

Norma said...

Listen to them read while looking concerned? That's a man's idea of a powerful woman?