Henrietta Hay's Column

This is a road report on women's bumpy trip to economic equality. Four recent news stories itemize the bumps.

The current issue of Forbes magazine features Harvard Business School's first female graduates. There were eight of them, brilliant, motivated and ambitious, graduating in 1965 from the country's most prestigious business school.

Nearly thirty years later only one of the eight is in a high level position, as associate director of research at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Why? It's not easy being a trailblazer.

One of the group says, "I was a success at 20. It was all downhill from there." The other graduate of '65 who choose a full time business career died at the age of 42.

The other five women chose the traditional path. They put marriage and children ahead of their careers. They all say they made the right choice for themselves. One did add that, "I'm sometimes frustrated I haven't fulfilled more with the education I have. But my daughter (a Princeton graduate) just decided to marry, and I'm not sure the decisions will be any easier for her."

Things are a little easier for today's batch of female M.B.A.'s who want to combine career and motherhood. One of the women said that, "I think it's easier for women today to combine both . The younger generation of men is much more supportive of that. Men are more helpful around the home. And there are more day care options."

The second story was in Time and concerns a major obstacle to success for many women. Lieut. (j.g.) Rebecca Hansen, an honor student in Aviation Officer Candidates School, wanted to fly with the Navy.

She was dismissed from flight school with only eight weeks left in an 18-month training course. In primary training Hansen was assigned a flight instructor who made remarks so inappropriate that "Roseanne would have had a hard time brushing them off." At one point he grabbed her hair and pulled her head down. She filed a complaint. The instructor was given a letter of reprimand. She was dismissed.

Admiral Stanley Arthur, vice-chief of Naval Operations was expecting to be confirmed as commander in chief of Pacific Forces. He reviewed Hansen's expulsion and approved it. She appealed to her Senator. The Navy withdrew Arthur's nomination. Her dismissal is on hold. Senator David Durenberger told Time, "The way the Navy has handled the Hansen case is absolutely incredible." Time adds, "For the moment, perhaps the only way women can make their point is to take a few admirals down with the ship."

The third story is much happier. Women are gaining power. The Rocky Mountain News says that Colorado women may not have achieved equality in the male dominated power structure, but they're now strategically placed to make things happen by working together.

The article points out that Colorado is the number 1 state for female entrepreneurship. The mayors of Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Thornton, Lakewood, Littleton and Longmont are women. Colorado's attorney general, state treasurer and secretary of state are women. Thirty-five of the 100 members of the Colorado legislature are women. One of the most powerful members of Congress is Pat Schroeder and there are seven female presidents of universities and colleges in Colorado.

Women are starting to network, as men have been doing for years. Much of the power is wielded behind the scenes. Susan Powers says, "There are a lot of women in very untraditional roles who are interacting with each other. Their friendships allow them to be a part of the decision-making process."

"In the past you would have one or two shining stars," said Rep. Diana DeGette. No one has realized what is coming. In the next 10 years you will see this broad base of female policy-makers suddenly becoming the core of the power structure."

The fourth bump will probably get me in trouble with my sisters. I cannot begin to imagine why Shannon Faulkner wants to go to school at the Citadel. But she does, and it is a tax-supported institution. Her admittance, while fought vigorously, was fair. But I agree that she should have her head shaved right along with the boys.

Oh well, who said progress was easy?