ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

More complex an issue than it might seem on the surface. We also live in a culture where "failure to launch" is a significant issue for men as well as women. Degrees and advanced degrees by women outpace men. The wage gap is closing quickly. Images of inept men are increasingly commonplace in the popular media while images of strong and courageous (and even obnoxiously macho) women is increasing.

The highly gendered ECE workforce may unwittingly contribute to the ambition gap, given its emphasis upon emotional and physical safety, consensus, language arts - at the expense of managed risk, science/math, and emotional and physical challenge.

Essentially, while women are terribly harmed by "lean in" values, "Twilight" attitudes, and "princess" culture - they are likewise harmed by the loss of physical education, access to nature, absence of physical and emotional risk, etc.

Ambition is connected to one's ability to assess and handle risk and reward. I can only be ambitious if I am willing to accept the consequences of such ambition. This requires practice as a child - practice attempting, failing, succeeding, losing, winning, and grieving. These things belong to both genders, although they are more often attributed to males. We need to recognize as early childhood educators, that by accepting the sanitization of childhood, we contribute to decreasing ambition for all children.

Why do so few fulfil their potential for true (not just designated) leadership? Have a look at the work of Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. One of her TED talks has had over 9 million hits - something there that resonates with many people. Brené has written a number of books and has a website, including some inspiring free posters. Hoping Exchange will inform people of her work (if I didn't miss this happening along the way).
I often find your daily email informative and inspiring, glad to get Murial Strode's quote.

Thank you for your question about the heading quotation. After some research I was able to discover that the quote is often misattributed to Emerson, but is actually a rephrasing of this quote from Strode: "I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail." I actually like this version better.

Until people stop buying that merchandise the companies will continue to produce it! I will bet not too many fathers bought that shirt for their daughters.....it was the mothers continuing this thought that women are still "second class" citizens. Women need to promote themselves and their daughters as well.

Please check the author of the quote " Do not go where this is a path..." I believe the author is Ralph Waldo Emerson not Strode.