[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Spatel7793

If the choice is up to me, I don't care whether you're male or female. If you step up, do your part well, and are a good person, you can lead. So what if you're called catty or bossy? It's only because you step up where others do not. They may not like being told what to do, but how else are things going to get done? It's a team game, not a one man or woman army.

I like what you said, but this part (emphasis mine) I feel like I needed to respond to.

The problem is that you wouldn't call a guy 'catty' or 'bossy' if he were in charge. You'd call him 'driven' and 'a leader'.

It's a really unfortunate double standard in our society.
There's a great Pantene ad about this that illustrates the point I'm trying to make: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOjNcZvwjxI

As a woman, who even as a high school student was a leader on my team and in other subsections of my life, I couldn't print some of the things I've been called just for stepping up and taking care of work that needed to be done. It's part of the culture- within FIRST, and out in the real world too - that we need to change.

Edit:: I have more thoughts on this thread, but I've gotta head to class. Perhaps later.