Barack Obama, The Female Vote, and Why It Matters in the Workplace

Yesterday's rally for Obama in Los Angeles rocked my world: Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and California First Lady Maria Shriver talking to a packed stadium at UCLA. (Watch the video here.)

For one thing, Michelle Obama is a great speaker in her own right and she is teaching us how to talk about race and women in new ways that only a non-candidate could do. But also, Maria Shriver made an unscheduled appearance to endorse Barack Obama even though her husband, Governor Schwarzenegger, had just endorsed John McCain.

It's a great picture of how much power women have--women who are so confident in their power that they know they can throw it behind a man to get what they want out of the world.

As frequent columnist and commentator about workplace issues, some of my harshest critics say that I'm "bad for feminism." They say I give bad advice to women because I don't see work as a place for women to fight against men to get equality.

Indeed, I generally see work as a place where women have equal footing with men. And personally, I see work as a place where men have mentored me the whole way. I would be nowhere without all the men who have helped me.

Sure, I know I'm still at a disadvantage because I'm a woman in the workplace. I was reminded of it just the other day when my business partner, Ryan, and I met with a potential investor. The guy passed on girl-related small-talk and spent 20 minutes with Ryan talking football.

And the same is true for black people in this country. Obama's success doesn't mean that things are suddenly great for black people everywhere. But Obama's success suggests that we can stop requiring everyone to divide everything by black and white.

And that makes me also think we can stop dividing things by men and women. I don't need to vote for Hillary Clinton to show that I support women. I support women by looking ahead to the next generation. My generation -- which is Obama's generation -- does not need to fight the women's fight anymore. Other people did it for us.

So thank you, feminists, but we're moving on. And to see all those women in California -- those women who got their power on their own, using it to support a man -- that sends chills up my spine, because I relate to that. I want to stand with the men and be on their team, and the only way to do that is to earn power myself and share it, with whoever deserves it, man or woman.

Watch for this in politics, and do it yourself at work. You can get stronger at work by breaking free of the divide that some people assume is there. We don't owe it to the last generation to keep fighting their fights. We owe it to the last generation to thank them, and then move on.

We have our own, more relevant fights today. Like how to work to live instead of live to work, how to stop being a slave to money, and how to make time for our families. These are issues for men as much as women. We are in those fights together.

And that's what I saw happening in Los Angeles on Sunday. I saw a centerpiece of the new fight: For change. Whoo hooo.

Comments

[texastrixie]

I'm voting for Obama, but I think you do not realize what smashing Hillary Clinton will do to the possibilities for a woman president. Hillary Clinton was our best chance to elect a woman president - in my opinion - for the next 20 years. No woman I see coming up through the ranks sparks any interest in me as a possible presidential candidate including Senators, Congress members or govenors. I think a woman presidential candidate has to have major military credentials, and few do. So, although I will vote for Obama, it saddens me to realize that I will probably not live to see a woman president. Oh, and by the way, although I like Obama, I wish he would put a piece of duct tape over his wife's mouth. I think she is one of the most irritating human beings I have ever listened to.

[DemandTruth]

In many ways I agree with you. I believe being a feminist is being smart enough and strong enough and self-confident enough to hold my own with the guys, and to NOT shrink back or hold my tongue or let them treat me any different because I'm a woman. HOWEVER, the fight, as you say, is FAR from over. Just ask Ms. Ledbetter, the woman who worked for Goodyear Tires for years, doing the same job as the men, but getting paid WAY less than them. Then, she was denied compensation and justice by the Supreme Court. No, there are still many people out there who believe YOU should not have that job. That you belong in the kitchen or taking care of all those babies you have to pop out whenever hubby wants some. Or that it's perfectly fine to beat you for being "uppity" or that you are nothing but your man's property. THIS is an unfortunate fact still in many of our lives that is affecting real people. So while I congratulate YOU on having achieved economic and psychological parity with men, PLEASE do not be deluded into thinking the fight is over. I do want Obama/Edwards 08, though.

[Zenpilot]

Great piece. I'm proud of my daughters for their excitement over Obama. They too are far past making a statement by electing a woman president--which is what Hillary seems be banking on. It's a great sign for the future that so many bright young woman are finding inspiration in Barack Obama, rather than trying to make history by standing behind a woman candidate.