Larry Summers' True Record on Women

Larry has been a true advocate for women throughout his career. In 1992, as Chief Economist of the World Bank, Larry argued in front of the world's Finance Ministers that the highest return investment they could make in their economies was to educate their girls. Through his work, girls' education became a focus for development experts and a topic not just in education ministries, but in financial ministries worldwide.

I first met Larry when I was a junior at Harvard. A friend and I were forming a new student organization, Women in Economics and Government, to encourage women to major in these subjects. We told all of our professors of our efforts and of all of them, the one who helped us the most was Larry. He served as our champion and helped rally the support of his fellow professors behind our efforts. The following year, when I wanted to write my senior thesis on the economics of spousal abuse, Larry volunteered to be my advisor because he recognized the importance of the issue.

I went on to work for him both at the World Bank and at Treasury. At the World Bank, he was a tireless advocate for girls' education. At Treasury, he fought for social security benefits for women working in their homes, better enforcement of child support obligations, and an expansion of child care tax credits. And through all of these years, he was a supportive and deeply caring mentor for me and many other women who had the opportunity to work for him.

Larry has been attacked by some in the women's community for remarks he made about women's abilities. As he has acknowledged himself, this speech was a real mistake. What few seem to note is that it is remarkable that he was giving the speech in the first place - that he cared enough about women's careers and their trajectory in the fields of math and science to proactively analyze the issues and talk about what was going wrong. To conclude that he communicated poorly -- and even insensitively -- is fair. To conclude that he is opposed to progress for women overlooks the fact that improving this progress was precisely the subject he was addressing.

Many people note that our nation has few economists with his intelligence. They should also know that we have few leaders, if any, in the financial world who have done more for women.

Comments

[k1k2lee]

This is why I love the internet and Huffington Post. It takes the spin of the stories out there in the media. The main stream media tends to portray the extremes on issues to create drama and interest in a story, and does a real disservice to the American public that is only interested in good, true information. Posts like yours gives real insight and complete information to anyone who is willing to listen and be informed. If people still have problems with Larry Summers - fine, but those problems should not be the product of a news media spin cycle. Thank you for your informative article. As a woman, a professional (trial attorney), and mother of small children - both a boy and a girl, I don't have a problem with Mr. Summers on "women's" issues. While I may have issues with free trade/market versus fair trade/market economies, I think Mr. Summers is, indeed, a very bright light in the economic world. And we need bright lights in these dark, dark times.

[btanner]

That's as personal a recommendation as anyone can get. Thanks for shedding light.

[booboo111]

Regardless of the "controversy" over his remarks, I agree with another's comment; There are plenty of good economists out there. The less Obama "churns" the old names including Clinton"s people, the better I'll like it. It was supposed to be all about "CHANGE!"

[KenShear]

It’s good to know that Mr. Summers has worked for some women's issues over the years, but you can’t just gloss over his Harvard comments as a little mistake. These mistakes are a pattern with Mr. Summers. The New York Times recently reported, Mr. Summers as Treasury Secretary told the head of the CFTC hat any effort to regulate derivatives would ruin the economy, and tried to bully her out of seeking regulation. Another mistake we should overlook? Nor have I heard Mr. Summers acknowledge that his sexist remarks at Harvard were not only impolitic, but also an unfortunate ideological agenda, in the Harvard case, being Mr. Summers belief in the canard that “women” in general are less able at math and science. I know too many women who have faced this kind of prejudice in academia to call this a harmless little mistake. Similarly, with his ill-conceived anti-regulatory philosophy, Mr. Summers encouraged (and even abetted) irresponsible financial manipulation. The thing about Mr. Summers’ mistakes is, other people pay for them. Appointment of Summers as Treasury Secretary would be a really big mistake if you ask me!

[BlueAsh]

I am glad to read this essay!

Too long we've been used to seeing everything completely in black and white, read segments of a speech out of context, and take extreme positions based on rigid, single-minded dogmatic "principles" (which aren't that different that Bush's famous "you are either with us or against us" approach.)

I, for one, want to see a smart person handling the economic issues for this country--he/she doesn't need to please everyone, doesn't have to be a smooth talker. Competence and the ability to recognize and learn from mistakes are my bottom line.

[Clavis]

What an informative and compelling essay. Thank you very much for the perspective; this does change my feelings on Larry Summers' potential selection as TreasSec. Best of luck in your continued efforts for women and all of us.

[ulsterheights]

Hi Cheryl. Thanks for the insight on Larry Summers. Unfortunately, we have to depend on contacts to give us good info. I believe, from all that I have read, that Larry would be a perfect pick for Secretary of the Treasury. What President Elect Obama has to do is surround himself with the best and brightest, whoever that would be and whatever party they are affiliated with. No matter what the choices are that President Elect Obama comes up with will be disputed and I have great confidence in his judgment. If he selects larry summers, the selection should be accepted and then let's get to work. Everyone has things that they do or say that they are sorry for and this shouldn't keep someone from doing the job. I would rather have an apologetic brilliant person than a not as bright one that can't get the job done.

[sdskelton03]

I have no idea whether or not Mr. Summers would make an effective treasury secretary.

I do know that he was horribly mistreated by the political left and the Harvard faculty.

All the guy had to say is that men and women might have different aptitudes. To those of us who live outside of academia and political activism, what he said was no big deal at all. In fact, many of us might agree with him.

[Seldon]

Thank you for putting a singular remark in context.

[kingmiller]

You know what? Thank you, you just changed my mind about Larry Summers. I had the wrong impression of him, as the "math speech" was all I really had heard about. Now I see the truth behind the goof and the reason it happened in the first place. Larry may not express himself as well as others, but he sounds like a good guy and a smart man. Good for the country, and thanks again.

[justfine]

I'll certainly give him a pass on his disastrous Harvard tenure and chalk it up to a terrible demeanor and lousy speaking manner coupled with an arrogant, my-way-or-­the-highwa­y style.

But. The fact that his post-Harvard firing life has been spent as a rainmaker for one of the country's largest hedge funds doesn't endear him to me or, I would guess, the majority of Obama voters. Yes, we elected Barack because we trust him to do what he thinks is the best for our country, but whom he chooses to assist him will send powerful messages.

[cavegal]

Thank you for pointing out what so many people seem to be missing. The choices our President Elect makes right now will be sending extremely powerful messages. I too am extremely concerned about Summers being a potential appointment as Sec Treasury. As far as I'm concerned any hedge fund manager getting that position would be telling the American people to screw themselves.