FORMER LT. GOVERNOR LECTURES HERE ON WOMEN, POLITICS, THE WHITE HOUSE

by John Jones

Can you imagine a female senator? Probably, you can. How about a madam president? It can happen. Fighter pilots? Soldiers? Corporate executives? All of these roles are being filled by women in increasing numbers. Times are changing and have been changing. It is no accident, and one of the people who has done a great deal to further the cause of women's rights lives right in our own back yard.

If it involves furthering the cause of feminism, former Missouri Lt. Governor Harriet Woods has probably done it. Among Woods' accomplishments is an eight-year term as state senator. She has been president of the National Women's Caucus, helped the Clinton administration choose female cabinet positions and founded the Institute for Policy Leadership here at UM-St. Louis. Woods has also been a councilwoman for University city.

Most recently, she has come to the University to teach a course on the feminist movement. The course is titled Risk Takers Who changed History: The Modern Women's Movement- a view from the inside.

Woods deals with some complicated issues, such as giving women the tools to break into the political and corporate arenas.

"One of the problems we have in getting women into power positions whether it's corporations or in the political sector is that very often men say: 'I don't know any women, I don't know any woman that can be on the board of directors.' They don't have any connections; they aren't aware of women who are competent. Getting women into an inner circle is very important," she explained.

Woods' says that she choose to work with UM-St. Louis because she appreciated the campus for it's diversity.

"The course is designed to inspire leadership for the future by talking about the past," she said.

Woods has made some tough choices in her careers. When Woods was fresh out of college, she had the ambition to become a newspaper reporter. She ended up in St. Louis with a job at the Morning Paper .

"The St. Louis Post Dispatch said they would never hire a woman in the newsroom," Woods explained. Then a grin slid across her face. "Shows you how mistaken some chauvinist males can be."

Woods explained that barriers against women gaining more power in our society are less externalized than they are internalized. Woods wishes to discuss this issue in her course.

"I hope the course will energize some women into taking chances and to gain the competence and the confidence to become leaders," she said. Harriet Woods' course will run from September 8 to December 15. It is both a credit and noncredit course.

At this point, Woods is working to ensure that women have a voice and that the future generation has the tools and the attitude to lead.

"I think that women are indeed going to accept an equal responsibility in the twentieth century, and if they are going to accept a full share of power, then they are going to have to take risks. If you are willing to be a leader, then you have to take a stand, and that involves taking a risk," she said.