Guest Commentary by Laurie Kelley, VP for University Relations
Last week, reporter Malika Andrews wrote an editorial she entitled, “Women can’t have it all, ….yet.” The article stressed that women are forced to choose between motherhood and a successful career. She inferred that it is impossible to have a thriving career while also succeeding in the roles of wife and mother, while men do not face the same pressures.
I’m writing to dispute these claims.
It is possible for both men and women to “have it all,” but first you need to define what having it all means for you.
At UP, there are hundreds of working parents who excel in their jobs and in their lives beyond career.
In terms of women who, in traditional terms, “have it all” there are so many examples. In academics there are women at the top of their respective fields: Deans Joanne Warner, Drew Harrington and Sharon Jones.
In management, to name just a few, there numerous leaders including Bryn Sopko in human resources, Rachel Barry-Arquit in marketing and communications, Janet Turner in financial aid, Karen Peters, senior associate athletic director, and Danielle Hermanny, general counsel and assistant to the President. At The Beacon there is Nancy Copic, former news anchor, and now your talented advisor.
There are dozens and dozens of stellar professors – Karen Eifler, Lauretta Frederking, Loretta Krautscheid, Jennette Lovejoy, Laurie McClary, Lisa Reed, Stephanie Salomone, Elayne Shapiro, Susan Stilwell, Jacquie Van Hoomissen, and so many more, who manage children and thriving careers.
While having our children has been among the biggest blessings of my life, I have numerous friends who did not marry or have children, and their lives are fulfilling, successful and important. I would say they “have it all” too.
There are so many ways to lead a happy and successful life.
Young women today have many more options than were present for Boomers and even Gen X’ers. And professionally successful men have shown to be perfectly capable and willing to do their share at home.
