Ooooh, this is really a tough one. As pointed out by the always helpful Jeff Jarvis at BuzzMachine, Jill Abramson, a NY Times editor, writes an opinion piece about how we should stop making a big deal out of the first woman (insert job title here). According to both Jeff and Jill (sounds like a fairy tale couple), pointing it out every time a woman moves into a profession/holds a title for the first time implies that we should be surprised a woman is able to do such a thing, which is (they say) insulting. I’m not so sure I’m comfortable with that. Commemorating such advancements, when it is a significant step, like Katie Couric becoming the first woman to anchor a network newscast solo, is worthwile and, to most people, doesn’t signify a sense of shock that women are advancing, but a sense of celebration that they are. I don’t think women’s equality has advanced so far that we are safe to make the world gender-neutral. Forgetting that women are still, STILL, taking their first steps into some of the world’s most powerful positions–and have yet to take steps into others–is like pretending everything is fine and dandy and we’re all on an equal playing field. We’re not. Not just yet.

Technorati tag: ,