The role of females has drastically changed in recent times

In the past several decades, we octogenarians have witnessed a significant change in the role of women in society. When we were children, most if not all women, stayed home to care for the children, the husband and the household chores.

That was their assigned role within the family structure. We were greatly surprised in those days when any woman achieved notoriety outside this male dominated scenario. We cited the names of the few females who had achieved world fame, such as Madame Curie and Joan of Arc, as examples of the exception to the rule.

Many even questioned them, alleging that it was not Madame Curie, but her husband, who was also a physicist, who had discovered radium. With respect to Joan of Arc, her gender was being questioned. It was the machismo culture prevalent in those days that was behind those ridiculous statements.
Nowadays, women have shown that they are at least as capable as men, perhaps emotionally stronger, and as passionate and dedicated to their jobs. It has been demonstrated, over and over again that women can compete in equal terms with men in positions once considered male-oriented. They bring to the work arena a different approach. Their compassion, social concern and ability to work together with others bring a welcomed, refreshing and new perspective. In the medical field I have witnessed the big impact they have made. Just to give one example, the present surgeon general in the state of Florida is a female. More than 50 percent of the students enrolled in medical school at the University of Florida and other centers of higher education are females. Many graduate at the top of their class. The same phenomenon is occurring in other fields of higher education.

We all know how successful they have been in diplomatic circles around the globe. Perhaps the presence of women in the upper echelons of world governments will contribute to stabilize the world and bring about the peace we all cherish. They might be more inclined to negotiate than to use power and wars to solve the conflicts among nations.

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