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Women Command Attention in Government, Hollywood and Broadcasting in 2009

by Nichola D. Gutgold

While the progress of women in the United States often fixates on the yet unelected first woman president, 2009 saw important gains for women in notable arenas, including politics, the movies and broadcasting.  In politics women replaced women in several elections pointing to the ever-growing number of women throwing their hats into the political ring; Hollywood showcased women outside the usual female prototype and for the first time two women and one man will deliver the evening news from the big three networks.  Research on women in politics indicates that more women in visible positions, not previously available to them, make future progress for women likely.

In May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor for appointment to the United States Supreme Court.  Her nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate in August 2009 and represents only the third woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court since its inception in 1790.  While women have often been silent members of bodies dominated by men, Sonia Sotomayor made her voice heard by asking more questions on her first day than some justices have asked in years.

In the 2008 presidential nomination race, Hillary Clinton won more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history, but lost to Barack Obama.  In 2009 she became Secretary of State, which made her the first former first lady to serve in a president's cabinet.  Her senate seat was filled by Kirsten Gillibrand, who became the second woman ever to serve as senator from New York.  Barack Obama named Janet Napolitano  United States Secretary of Homeland Security on January 21, 2009. Jan Brewer replaced her to become Arizona’s fourth female governor.

New Hampshire and North Carolina also elected women senators. Jeanne Shaheen became the first woman in United States history to be elected as both a governor and United States senator.  She was the first woman to be elected governor of New Hampshire, serving from 1997 to 2003. In North Carolina Kay Hagan was elected senator in a hard fought campaign against long time politician, Elizabeth Dole. Before her election as senator Kay Hagan was a five-term member of the North Carolina Senate.  The first female governor of   North Carolina was also elected when Beverly Eaves Perdue took office.

And in California, two former chief executive officers are vying for political office.  Hoping to build on their ethos as business tycoons, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina wants to become California's next United States senator, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman vies to be the next governor of California. 

In film women stepped into the spotlight in unexpected ways. Making her acting debut was Gabby Sidibe, a heavy-set African-American woman who starred in  “Precious” the heartbreaking story of an uneducated teenage girl who is pregnant for the second time by her father and wretchedly abused by her mother.  Long time box office favorites Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep both starred in multiple hits raising the age bar for women in Hollywood.   And in the broadcasting field, sixty-four year old Diane Sawyer will take her place in the anchor seat at ABC World News, making her the second woman to be sole anchor of the evening news in the United States. 

There can be no doubt:  2009 saw important gains for women in highly visible and powerful arenas. These gains are likely to strengthen the opportunities for women to continue to move forward in 2010 and beyond.

©2009 Nichola D. Gutgold for SeniorWomen.com

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