Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 8, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 13 science at Worcester State University. But while many are rightfully eager to tout the immediate impact of Harris assuming office – and only four years aer Hillary Clinton lost her bid to be elected president, despite winning the popular vote – the reality, said Haller, is it's going to be years before the long-term ramifications of the country's new vice president are borne out. "ese are the kinds of things that you see the impact of, maybe not immediately, but say, maybe in 10 years or 20 years," Haller said. "e impact is oen on children who are seeing what's possible in a really fundamental way." It's less likely, Haller said, adult women will see Harris as the country's second- in-command and then decide to run for a local board position. (at said, Haller noted, Clinton's loss in 2016 did seem to contribute to a wave of women making bids for public office, such as in the 2018 midterm congressional elections.) Perspective matters, too Harris holds a position intrinsically historical and inspirational, although she will still have to make the office her own. As if it's not enough pressure being the first woman of color to hold the title, vice presidencies are notoriously fickle BestPro Cleaning celebrates Diana Gallego Diana Gallego from BestPro Cleaning with more than 15 years of experience came to this country 20 years ago full of dreams and goals to fulfill. She is qualified and has the right knowledge in the cleaning industry in her community and throughout the state. Our company has added new services to offer our customers. In addition to performing administrative tasks, Diana cares about helping her clients in the cleaning field and educating them on how important it is to have workplaces with high standards of cleanliness and disinfection. 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It's still too early to say what kinds of responsibilities Harris will take on, as well as what kinds of responsibilities President Joe Biden will assign her. Moreover, it would be reductive to assert simply getting Harris to office represents the end of the trailblazing possible under the Biden-Harris Administration. e reality is getting women into leadership positions is only part of the battle. Affecting change requires more than just elevating a single person; it requires changing hearts and minds of those around them. "Just getting in the door solves one thing," Haller said. "But there's always huge cultural changes that need to happen to hear women's voices, have them be respected." at is no small task. "We're really looking at the double standards and the bias that women face, [which] unfortunately, are not going to go away just because we have a woman vice president," said Amanda Hunter, executive director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation in Cambridge, which researches about women running for elected office. "And the more that we can talk about those obstacles, both so that women in politics understand, but also the votes so voters can understand their own bias is so important." Women are still expected to behave differently, even if they do break glass ceilings. All experts interviewed for this story pointed to the groundwork still needing to be done to ensure women are both treated and respected equally, both in business and on the campaign trail. Not to be understated, though, Harris has brought with her to Washington, D.C. an entire lifetime's worth of experiences which are dramatically different than any of those brought to the office by anyone else who has held it. is will necessarily inform how she approaches her job, and serves as a reminder of why it's important to give people from all walks of life seats at both the literal and proverbial table. "Representation really matters and the fact that Vice President Harris made history and now so many women and girls and children can see themselves in her is so powerful. But we also know that lived experience matters," Hunter said. To have Harris in the vice presidency, Hunter said, means someone with different perspectives than ever before will be influencing decision-making in a way that's never been done before, all by virtue of having lived a different life. at change in point of view will ensure the needs and priorities of those not traditionally represented in high- level leadership will be innately present, one of the many reasons diversity matters. e same can be said of the private sector, as well. Global women leaders Source: Encyclopedia Britanica Countries who have had a female head of state 70 Year the first woman – Vigdís Finnbogadóttir of Iceland – won a national election for head of state 1980 Of the world's 10 most populous countries, the number who have never had a female head of state: United States, Mexico, Russia, China & Nigeria Five W

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