May/June 2013

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empowerment

diversity

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MAY/JUNE 2013 Rs. 20

mentorship

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What Difference Can I Make? dreams STEM creativity

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”

Watch an interview with Special Adviser Zeenat Rahman on SPAN’s YouTube channel at http://goo.gl/eE0Wm

SAMEEK GHOSH RAKESH MALHOTRA State Department Photo

on

State Department Photo

The Office of Global Youth Issues is a reaction to the demographic and economic realities that face all of us around the world that youth are a burgeoning population, particularly in the developing world, and they are going to play a prominent role in shaping our 21st century world.

Right: Special Adviser Zeenat Rahman interacts with students as they work on bottle gardens as part of an Earth Day event in Kolkata.

Below right: Special Adviser Rahman tries her hand at Indian folk music at an event organized by Banglanatak dot com, a nongovernmental organization, in Kolkata.

Below right: Manju Dhasmana, community affairs manager for Microsoft India (from left), Special Adviser Rahman and Arun Rajamani, head, public sector and education at Microsoft India, at the launch of the Innovate for Good event in New Delhi.

The program enables youth to use technology to make a difference in their communities.

Below right: Srikant Suryanarayan with Special Adviser Rahman during a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industries Young Indians in Mumbai.

Below right: Special Adviser Rahman meets members of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party in New Delhi.

SAMEEK GHOSH

© Getty Images

RAKESH MALHOTRA

Z “

eenat Rahman, Special Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State for Global Youth Issues, traveled to Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi in April to meet with young innovators and expand people-to-people ties between the United States and India. The Office of Global Youth Issues works to promote development, peace and stability by empowering youth economically, politically and socially around the world.

Through a variety of mechanisms, including private sector partnerships, and cooperation with an extensive network of over 50 Youth Councils worldwide, the office amplifies youth issues and supports youth-driven solutions to many of the world’s most pressing problems. http://www.state.gov/j/gyi

May/June 2013

A LETTER FROM THE

PUBLISHER

V O LU M E L I V N U M B E R 3

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Art Director Hemant Bhatnagar Deputy Art Directors Qasim Raza, Shah Faisal Khan Web Manager Chetna Khera Production/Circulation Manager Alok Kaushik Printing Assistant Manish Gandhi Research Services Bureau of International Information Programs, The American Library

 Articles with a star may be reprinted with permission.

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Contact SPAN at 011-23472135 or editorspan@state.gov

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Power of Half the Sky

By Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine

5  Walking the Balance Beam

The Virtual Middle Class Rises

By Anne Walls

12

Taking

By Thomas L. Friedman

Back the Night

By Carrie Loewenthal Massey

Want

T. RAINS/Courtesy NPS

9

30

to Change the World?

By Carrie Loewenthal Massey

16

Technology

@ Work

M. LAKSHMAN © AP-WWP

 Women

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Work-Life Balance

4

 Women

Entrepreneurs Mean Business

Changer for Girls  The Game-C

 An

Alaskan Treat

By Steve Fox

Winning

Votes and Leading Communities

By Michael Gallant

27

 Reimagining

Women Through Theater

By Michael Gallant

Courtesy Tulsi for Hawaii

By Jane Varner Malhotra

24

Travel

32

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Front cover: Graphic by Hemant Bhatnagar. Photograph © Getty Images.

Published by the Public Affairs Section, American Center, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (phone: 23472000), on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi. Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, 18/35, Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad, Haryana 121007. Opinions expressed in this 44-page magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government.

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Education

Publisher Walter T. Douglas Editor in Chief Adele E. Ruppe Editor Deepanjali Kakati Associate Editor Richa Varma Hindi Editor Giriraj Agarwal Urdu Editor Syed Sulaiman Akhtar Copy Editor Shah Md. Tahsin Usmani Editorial Assistant Yugesh Mathur

2

Politics

n a statement on International Women’s Day in March, President Barack Obama said, “Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. When women succeed, nations are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous. Over the last year, we’ve seen women and girls inspiring communities and entire countries to stand up for freedom and justice, and I’m proud of my Administration’s efforts to promote gender equality worldwide.”

Indeed, the process of promoting women’s economic empowerment and political participation, preventing gender-based violence and providing equal opportunities is an ongoing one.

This issue of SPAN explores some areas where changing mind-sets, practical guidance and mentorship have helped women explore their potential. We decided to not just talk about the larger issues but to also take a look at the women who have made a difference. From entrepreneurs, scientists and politicians to activists and athletes, these pathbreakers are showing other women how to step forward to take leadership roles, change misperceptions and use the many tools available to chart their own course.

These role models also remind us that while nations across the world work to empower women and girls, we must not forget the power of an individual to be a catalyst for change. It can happen with a parent saying it is as important for their daughter to participate in sports as their son, with a husband sharing household responsibilities so that his wife can pursue a career, with a teacher reiterating that proficiency in science and math is not determined by gender, with one member of a community speaking up when a woman’s right to dignity and safety is challenged, or just anyone simply motivating others through the work they do.

If the articles in this issue inspire you, please write and tell us how you think you can make a difference and promote change in your community. We are always interested in your views. This is a topic on which we hope to continue a dialogue with our readers. You can reach us at editorspan@state.gov.

Photographs by RAKESH MALHOTRA

Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine with Access students at Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi in February. The English Access Microscholarship Program provides a foundation of English language skills to talented 14- to 18year-olds from disadvantaged sectors.

Power of Half the Sky

The

By U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

TARA SONENSHINE

“

Each woman and girl deserves the opportunity to benefit from the three C’s—

community, connections, and confidence.

2 MAY/JUNE 2013

”

A

nthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

India reflects the spirit of thoughtful, committed women who, working together, will build a strong democratic nation contributing to the global economy.

The women I have met, beginning with India’s Ambassador Nirupama Rao in Washington, are full of passion, political savvy, and principle.

At our American Center in New Delhi, the young women I met with were filled with questions about many timely subjects, including the difficult subject of gender based violence in India. They wanted to learn from American experiences how they could work to develop a society where women can live and work freely, without fear of discrimination or violence.

I met with an Indian woman writer who works on the literary festival which brings together the best and the brightest of India’s cultural community. I also met women entrepreneurs, scientists at TERI University, bloggers, and heads of civil society organizations, who

Right: Under Secretary Tara Sonenshine (center) met student leaders, journalists and bloggers at a roundtable at the New Delhi American Center in February.

Right: Under Secretary Sonenshine meets writer and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Namita Gokhale (left).

Far right: Under Secretary Sonenshine at the New Delhi American Center.

http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/ by_author/tdsonenshine/ https://twitter.com/TSonenshine

SPAN videos: How can youth make a difference?

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Tara Sonenshine

thinking and an opportunity for educational and cultural exchange. As Nicholas Kristof, noted NY Times journalist, says, you need to unlock the potential of half the sky, meaning the 50 percent of the world population that are women.

Each woman and girl deserves the opportunity to benefit from the three C’s—community, connections, and confidence. Confidence is built through exposure to other cultures and other languages and the support of other women showing you what is possible. Through relationships with other women, women fulfill Margaret Mead’s blessing that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. I look forward to working with U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell, and so many committed women in India, on joint projects that bring out the best of our two nations.

WOMEN

agreed that India can achieve its greatest potential by creating more opportunities and protections for all women.

Education is one of the most effective ways we can nurture new generations of strong, open-minded, creativethinking young women. And I am delighted that the Indian Government has committed to building community colleges into the framework of India’s education.

During my visit, I attended higher education meetings at which American educators and Indian educators discussed everything from online education to vocational training. Working together, our two societies can learn from one another to create partnerships around open universities and shared learning.

It is my hope that these publications produced by our American Center will provide a window into American

© Getty Images

http://goo.gl/PdNB7

U.S. diplomat connects with Indian youth http://goo.gl/X01jq

MAY/JUNE 2013

3

Walking the

© Getty Images

Balance Beam

By ANNE WALLS

“

ne’s mother ran a nonprofit child abuse prevention center. Another’s held prominent positions in the education world.

And the third’s was a stay-at-home mom.

But despite differences in how they were raised, all three of the successful women you are about to meet have something in common: they are married, raising children and are working full-time careers. In other words, they are making it all work for them.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprised 47 percent of the total U.S. labor force in 2010. In 1960, only 22 percent women were employed. A major factor in that rise has been a changing mind-set about the capabilities of female workers. With the increase of women’s equality and a shifting of traditional gender roles, women have been able to expand their presence

My husband does so much around the house.

We are definitely 50/50 on all things home-related.

—Jessie Randall, award-winning designer

of the fashion label Loeffler Randall

MAY/JUNE 2013

5

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

ERIK MELVIN

Finding equilibrium with work, family and life.

of feeling like I’m always forgetting something.” But, she counters, “I feel really grateful to have such a full life that includes creativity and community and intellectual challenges and family.”

Though there are obvious financial incentives for both partners to work, each of these women has more personal reasons for staying in the professional world after becoming a mother.

Randall says, “I like feeling challenged in my career and learning new things every day. I am lucky to work in my dream career and to be able to be creative every day.”

Messler agrees: “I recognize for myself the fulfillment I get from my job, especially the outlet for creativity it provides and the day-to-day relationships with colleagues and students.

Maintaining and nurturing this part of my personality and my brain is very important to me.”

“

I feel really grateful to have such a full life that includes creativity...and intellectual challenges and family.

—Erin Courtney, Obie award-winning playwright

6 MAY/JUNE 2013

HEATHER PHELPS LIPTON

in professional fields while their husbands are sharing more of the domestic and childcare duties.

Victoria Messler is an assistant director of a middle school in New York City with a two-and-a-half-year-old son and another baby on the way. Messler says, “I think working full time allows my marriage to be the kind of equal partnership that I always wanted, even in parenting. Since both of us work, we divide the load of household responsibilities as equally as we can.”

Jessie Randall, mother of three and award-winning designer of the fashion label Loeffler Randall, echoes Messler’s sentiments. Her husband, Brian Murphy, is the chief financial officer of their company, but Randall says he also finds time to help at home. “My husband does so much around the house. We are definitely 50/50 on all things home-related.”

Randall has been working full time since she graduated college in 1998 and says one of the biggest challenges of trying to balance a career and family is “the feeling of constantly letting someone down—at work you feel you are not giving enough and at home you feel you are not giving enough. There isn’t enough time to go around. That said, I do feel like I have a wonderful balance.”

Erin Courtney can attest to the challenges of working and raising a family.

An Obie Award-winning playwright, college professor and mother of two, Courtney says, “The biggest challenge is the multitasking and the low grade stress

Photographs © Getty Images

Nurturing

Companies Husbands are not the only ones pitching in to help raise happy, wellnurtured k rs are also picking up some of the responsibilities.

Here are a few examples of U.S. companies who are helping

Ernst and Young, LLP

Johnson & Johnson

employees balance work and family.

This global accounting firm has ranked in the top 10 on Working Mother’s “100 Best Companies” list because of the many benefits the company provides for its employees’ families, like parenting and sibling classes. The company offers an average of 14 weeks of fully-paid maternity leave. It also offers paid paternity and adoption leave.

Cisco

American Express

Verizon Communications

This California-based networking equipment manufacturer has two on-site childcare centers which offer holiday and vacation care, and an 11-week summer camp for employees’ kids between the ages of 6 and 12.

The credit card company’s Healthy Babies program connects expectant moms with a maternity nurse and provides support for high-risk births and special needs, while also offering infertility consultations and up to $20,000 in coverage for related treatments.

Parents who work at this New Jersey company have their choice of seven on-site facilities that treat kids under age 5 to puppet shows, storytelling, art, music and nature activities, and even offer kindergarten and summer camps in some areas. There is a nurse on site, as well.

This technology company knows about using the most up-to-date ways to communicate. So much so, that they allow parents to conduct meetings via video conference, work from satellite offices near home, or pull night shifts to spend more days with their kids. —AA.W.

AVRAM KAUFMAN

“

I think working full time allows my marriage to be the kind of equal partnership that I always wanted, even in parenting. —Victoria Messler , assistant director of a middle school in New York City

”

Go Online Loeffler Randall http://www.loefflerrandall.com/ LRPartners.aspx

Erin Courtney http://www.aoiagency.com/2010/ 06/erin-courtney-playwright/

One of the things that seem to help these driven women keep their personal and professional lives in order is a well-oiled daily schedule. All three women have a routine that they stick to—with their family, as well as their professions. Messler says, “I keep things like clockwork and very structured, because the routine keeps things under control and life more enjoyable for everyone.” All three try to be home for dinner. Courtney, whose mom worked full time at a nonprofit, says she was raised with her busy parents still making family a priority. “We ate dinner together every night,” she recalls. “Which was amazing actually, now that I think about it.”

Also important is quality time. Randall takes every Friday off to spend time with her sons. Courtney and her husband Scott make sure they go out on the town for special events at least twice a month. Messler says weekends are key. “Our weekends are spent together as a family doing things we will all enjoy: visiting new playgrounds around the city, checking out museums, having play dates with other families. We are almost always together. We really find great fun in watching our son explore the world.”

And the overall result has been—besides a jam-packed schedule—a more fulfilled life. One that sets a positive, empowering example for their kids. According to Courtney, “It feels rewarding when I am going through a creative or professional challenge and my children get to watch the whole process of hard work, obstacles and fears…and then the outcomes.”

Anne Walls is a writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California.

Forget Work-Life Balance: The Dual-Career It’s Time for Work-Life Mojo that Makes Blend Couples Thrive http://goo.gl/gQ7op

http://goo.gl/QugJ8

2012 Working Mother 100 Best Companies http://goo.gl/1VpBE

8 MAY/JUNE 2013

Taking Back the Night

Fighting gender-based violence on the ground, around the world.

GENDER VIOLENCE

Š Getty Images

By CARRIE LOEWENTHAL MASSEY

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov MAY/JUNE 2013 9

Illustration by HEMANT BHATNAGAR

A

“

Anyone who does something courageous and difficult and speaks out and isn’t afraid to say

‘I’m going to do the right thing and take that risk’—anytime people

do that, the world is going to be better.

of Take Back The Night Foundation

Take Back The Night http://takebackthenight.org

White House public service announcement on dating violence http://www.whitehouse.gov/1is2many/

Apps against abuse http://goo.gl/9f6ur

© Getty Images

“Stop Street Harassment”

http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/about/book

“Half the Sky”

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/half-the-sky 10 MAY/JUNE 2013

Go Online

”

—Katie Koestner, board president

grim statistic runs across the top of the Take Back The Night Foundation Web site: “At least one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten, forced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime by a partner, relative, friend, stranger, employer, and/or colleague.”

But Take Back The Night has made it its mission to turn this statistic on its head, fighting gender violence since 1999.

Katie Koestner is the driving force behind the international headquarters of the organization, which she established in the wake of speaking out about her own experience as a survivor of date rape at the age of 18.

“I was motivated by having gone through this terrible experience and being met with very little support. The guy got a slap on the wrist and no one thought what happened was bad because we were on a date. I just thought that was plain old wrong,” she says.

Koestner’s efforts to stand up for herself at the college she attended soon burgeoned into a national cause and her life’s passion.

“There have been events that have called themselves Take Back The Night around the world for over 4 decades. I brought everyone together to unite the groups....

We are the international HQ for all Take Back The Night events,” she says. Any given day can entail “flying on a plane from one town to another giving speeches…or writing sexual assault policies for schools,” or countless other related tasks.

“I wear about 5 billion hats but I don’t tire of any of them,” she says.

In March, Koestner interacted with audiences in Chennai and New Delhi through video conferences where she spoke about women’s safety in public spaces, role of survivors in raising awareness about violence against women and the policies and educational strategies currently employed by groups in the United States.

A grassroots campaign Ultimately, Koestner and Take Back The Night seek to end the silence that can allow sexual violence to proliferate. In certain communities, power dynamics keep women from coming forward to report a rape, Koestner says. The very act of reporting could, in fact, lead to punishment.

Safety on Campus

S

ince the early days of Take Back The Night, many U.S. colleges have developed “really strong sexual assault protection programs,” says Board President Katie Koestner. One such model exists at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon.

Lewis & Clark talks to its students about sexual assault from day one, sending the message that “we don’t tolerate gender violence and if it happens we take it seriously and offer support for survivors,” says Melissa Osmond, associate director for health promotion and wellness at the college.

Osmond organizes group discussions during orientation for new students and

Taking a stand in your community

Carrie Loewenthal Massey is a New York City-based freelance writer.

Campus Safety at Lewis & Clark College http://goo.gl/bd7nS

Sexual Assault on Campus: What Colleges and Universities Are Doing About It

Some safety tips include meeting new people in public places and using clear communication in sexual situations. Osmond gives this advice with the strong caveat that “only the offender can prevent the crime because they make a choice to hurt someone,” and that failure to follow any of these practices should not cast any blame on the victim.

Osmond hopes to expand Lewis & Clark’s sexual assault prevention program, training as many people as possible to help keep women students safe.

“This is an issue everyone should be involved in,” she —C.L.M. says.

U.S. Department of Education letter on gender-based violence http://goo.gl/2hWID

http://goo.gl/qU21N

© Getty Images

To those wanting to join the fight against gender violence, Koestner suggests starting with some concentrated research.

“See if there are like-minded folks…rape crisis centers, social justice groups or other existing structures in the community and try to join forces with them,” she says. “If there’s nothing, then you are going to have to start building some alliances.”

Koestner suggests thinking in terms of “what do I want to accomplish and how do I move from point A to point C—what’s my ‘B’ step to get there.” She encourages looking to those not only with power, but to the people vying for power.

“Sometimes you are more likely to get support [from up and coming leaders] because they need a way to make a splash and they see you as someone who can help do that,” Koestner says.

She continues to be inspired by anyone brave enough to speak out against any form of gender-based violence.

“Anyone who does something courageous and difficult and speaks out and isn’t afraid to say ‘I’m going to do the right thing and take that risk’—anytime people do that, the world is going to be better,” Koestner says.

also conducts training in peer advocacy with student groups. The training helps to ensure there is a large population of people on campus that can recognize situations that might not look or sound right and know how to intervene effectively.

The college also encourages students to follow certain safe practices and provides services to make it easy to do so. Campus safety officers will escort anyone home who does not want to walk alone on campus late at night. Likewise, the Feminist Student Union started a “safe ride” program that will pick students up on- or off-campus and take them to their homes.

Go Online

Because of these discrepancies across geographical, cultural and sometimes religious lines, Take Back The Night works in a fairly unstructured way; it doesn’t prescribe a specific formula for different communities to combat or heighten awareness of sexual violence. There are about 650 participating communities that hold events “when they can garner support…or when they feel the right ingredients are present,” Koestner says.

Depending on the customs and laws governing a particular area, a Take Back The Night event can consist of a public march or protest or a group of supporters and survivors sitting in a circle, lighting candles, singing and reading poetry.

According to Koestner, the goal is to highlight the sexual violence and bring support, in the best possible way, to those who have been assaulted.

11

Want to

Change World? the

By CARRIE LOEWENTHAL MASSEY

FRANK HAXTON/Digiman

Practical advice for women interested in STEM careers from those who have made a mark in this field.

“

Attracting and retaining more women in STEM careers will help tremendously to improve diversity, maximize creativity and boost competitiveness.

—Karen Purcell, founder and

president of PK Electrical, Inc. in Reno, Nevada

12 MAY/JUNE 2013

W ”

hen Karen Purcell was in high school, her physics teacher told her that engineers could do anything.

“That had me very intrigued,” she says.

Purcell pursued a degree in electrical engineering and found her niche creating blueprints and plans for lighting, power and communication systems for commercial buildings. She now owns an engineering firm of 19 employees in Reno, Nevada.

It is the tangibility of her work that keeps Purcell motivated and passionate.

“I love that you can work on a design, put it down onto paper or on a computer and then a few months later it is constructed. It is so nice your design can become a reality [and] each project…serves as a learning opportunity,” she says.

The ability to have this sort of concrete

Courtesy Argonne National Laboratory

A lot of women, girls and other underrepresented groups do not understand what STEM entails.

STEM is all around you from the food you eat (food scientists) to the roads you drive on (civil engineers). Also, engagement will help them to understand that STEM is not some abstract field that only “other” people work in. The STEM field includes women and people from diverse backgrounds and only benefits from adding different perspectives.

—J’Tia Taylor, technical nonproliferation specialist at

impact on the world characterizes all Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, areas in which employment opportunities should expand by 17 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is a growth rate that is nearly double that of non-STEM fields.

But how many women will hold these jobs?

Women fill nearly half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, though they occupy only 25 percent of STEM positions, with little gain throughout the past decade.

Purcell hopes this percentage will change in the coming years.

In 2012, she founded the nonprofit STEMspire in conjunction with publishing her book, “Unlocking Your Brilliance: Smart Strategies for Women to Thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering, and

I feel STEM education should be made more engaging and connected to everyday life in order to attract girls and young women. Since family and teachers play such an important role in the early development of academic interests, they play a vital role in shaping future generations of innovators, regardless of gender, and both play vital roles in encouraging girls to explore STEM topics.

—Ritimukta Sarangi, staff scientist at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov MAY/JUNE 2013 13

SCIENCE

Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois

I think it is important to redefine the image of a scientist as a man working alone in the laboratory to that of a diverse team of researchers working toward a common goal that has huge societal impact. Scientific research is actually very social— the best labs are supportive, vibrant and creative environments that interact with researchers from around the world. When women, girls and underrepresented groups have a chance to see research in action, they want to be a part of it.

My main advice is to take as much math (first) and science (second) as you can at an early age (and at any age!) and get ‘hands on’ experience through science projects and hobbies. …Keep asking questions and don’t worry about whether they are good questions. If you’re hesitant then use this rule: If you cannot think of the answer yourself in less than a minute, then go ahead and ask the question. You learn so much more by asking questions.

—Sunita Satyapal, director

of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office

14 MAY/JUNE 2013

Photographs courtesy U.S. Department of Energy

—Jill Fuss, research scientist in biophysics and biochemistry at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California

Math,” which she wrote to “encourage and inspire women in STEM.” Through STEMspire, Purcell hopes to provide resources, including assistance with starting STEM-related businesses and financial scholarships for college to women currently working in STEM fields and those considering future STEM careers. She considers the mission crucial, even “critical to improving the global economy.”

“Attracting and retaining more women in STEM careers will help tremendously to improve diversity, maximize creativity and boost competitiveness,” she says.

Early exposure and mentorship Purcell recognizes certain challenges exist to pulling more women into STEM careers. For one, young girls need more exposure to STEM fields, she says.

Purcell also encourages current STEM professionals to get involved in school programs that arrange mentors for young women and help them understand what careers in certain fields will be like.

Ideally, the mentor-student relationship is one that goes long-term, with the mentor taking a vested interest in the young person’s career advancement.

“The majority of successful women

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/women

Women @ Energy http://energy.gov/diversity/listings/women-energy

Women in Science http://pinterest.com/penamoonz/ women-in-science/?page=2

Go Online

Women in STEM

Video Series: How to Do a Science Fair Project http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/ sciencefair

“Women in Science: Then and Now” http://goo.gl/09TDw

Karen Purcell on Twitter https://twitter.com/STEMspire

time and time again credit their participation in some sort of mentorship with dramatically helping them reach their career goals,” says Purcell.

Staying in STEM for the long haul Beyond breaking into their professions, women in STEM fields face some unique challenges to career advancement and have higher attrition rates than their male counterparts. Purcell attributes the dropout rate to several obstacles, including “the general belief that men outperform women in math and science fields, …work-life balance issues and bias.”

But she assures there are ways around these potential barriers. Strong mentorship helps, as can “finding a supportive spouse” and accepting that “balance is never easy.” Purcell makes it all work, leading in her industry as well as spending time with her two children.

And there is her daily morning run too—Purcell’s guaranteed alone time that lets her “reflect on what my day will look like.”

“Finding that time can be difficult,” she says, “but it is critical to success.”

Carrie Loewenthal Massey is a New York City-based freelance writer.

I feel networking is very important in the field of research, getting to know the right people, reading latest technical publications and being perceptive makes a lot of difference. Serendipity plays a huge role too. I also think getting a mentor is very important, it definitely helped me a lot.

—Farah Fahim, engineer at the Fermi National

Accelerator Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois

Throughout my childhood, my parents never implied to me that as a girl, I could not achieve something I wanted. Engineering was an easy choice for me. I never had a second thought. Truly, it never occurred to me to do anything else!

—Xin Sun, computational mathematics scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington

Women

“

They have passion for an idea, a vision to succeed longterm after the business is launched...

Courtesy National Association of Women Business Owners

�

16 MAY/JUNE 2013

Diane Tomb

President and CEO, National Association of Women Business Owners.

Business

I

By STEVE FOX

womenowned firms with

$10 million

-

or more in revenues rose from 8,110 to 12,700 56.6 percent a increase.

Marsha Firestone

Founder and president, Women Presidents’ Organization.

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov MAY/JUNE 2013 17

ENTREPRENEURS

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of majority

wanted to be happy with what I was doing for a living,” says Delia Bonfilio in discussing why she started her own business in 1998. “I worked in a small design studio, learned how that company operated and then went out on my own.”

Bonfilio Design, whose clients range from Avon and the Animal Rights Coalition to the City of New York, is one of more than eight million women-owned businesses in the United States.

These firms are a rapidly expanding slice of the American economy that has grown some 54 percent in the past 15 years according to a March 2012 study, the State of Women-Owned Businesses Report published by American Express OPEN, which examined U.S. Census Bureau data.

“We are not talking about women making clothes in their spare bedroom,” says Marsha Firestone, founder and president of the Women Presidents’ Organization, whose members run multimillion-dollar companies. “Women own about 30 percent of all the private-held companies in the country, and as of the end of 2011, they generated $1.3 trillion in revenues and employed more than 7.7 million people,” she adds.

Women’s success benefits everyone, including men, Firestone emphasizes.

“Economic security is the keystone of a stable society,” she says. “If we want to grow employment and the overall tax base, we need to take advantage of every possible opportunity. If you shut out half of your population, you are leaving out a great resource.”

The idea that women cannot run big companies is debunked by the American Express OPEN study.

Among the key findings: Between 2002 and 2012, the number of majority women-owned firms with $10 million or more in revenues rose from 8,110 to 12,700—a 56.6 percent increase.

During the same time period, the number of

Courtesy Women Presidents’ Organization

n Entrepreneurs Mean

National Women’s Business Council www.nwbc.gov

Biz Divas

Go Online

http://bizdivas.in

30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter http://goo.gl/YG3q

“Harvard Business Review on Women in Business” http://goo.gl/E8Lgc

The State of Women-Owned Businesses Report http://goo.gl/zIcb8

18 MAY/JUNE 2013

Connecting

Women World Around the

A

lthough they might not realize it, women in developing countries who wonder if they can advance themselves by starting their own businesses have a strong ally working on their behalf.

The Council on Women’s Leadership at Meridian, based at Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., connects and educates leaders from diverse fields and disciplines who share an interest in impacting women’s empowerment and leadership opportunities. Founded in 2010, the council works to strengthen international understanding of the political, economic and social factors that accelerate the empowerment of women in their local communities, nationally and globally.

Michele Manatt, chair and co-founder of the council, believes women are natural entrepreneurs.

“Women can do many things at the same time—they don’t have just one occupation,” Manatt says in an interview. “Their ability to conceptualize a business and try out ideas does not come at the exclusion of other duties such as taking care of their households, their children, their parents.”

The council’s many events and programs bring together women from developing countries who exchange ideas and experiences with leading figures in a variety of fields from the United States and elsewhere. Hundreds of women from

ceed and to take risks.”

Women who start their own business find ways to overcome challenges, says Anie Borja, executive director of the National Women’s Business Council, a federal agency that provides advice to the U.S. President, Congress and the Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

“Women can do more with less,” Borja

India, Pakistan, Egypt, Colombia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have participated in the council’s programs.

“The overriding purpose of our networking is to break down the walls that women live with in their worlds so they understand that women across many disciplines share similar values and objectives,” Manatt says.

In her address marking the annual celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Manatt noted that women’s issues are a global priority for the United States.

“Today, we can all be encouraged that the issues of the advancement of women and girls are more central to how U.S. policymakers and opinion leaders analyze and respond to foreign policy challenges,” she said.

The council’s work will bear fruit for many years to come, Manatt believes.

“We have developed a network of very promising future leaders, in the political, cultural, economic and education areas, who have come to us through programs we organize and execute,” Manatt says.

“We believe we plant seeds in them that will sprout and flourish when they get —S.F. back home.”

Courtesy Council on Women’s Leadership at Meridian

women-owned firms with $1 million or more in revenues grew from 116,985 to 152,900—a 30.7 percent increase.

What’s more, the $10 million and up companies were concentrated in industries not usually considered as “feminine”—20 percent were in wholesale trade, 12 percent in finance and insurance, 11 percent in transportation and warehousing, and 10 percent in arts, entertainment and recreation.

Successful women entrepreneurs share a number of traits, says Diane Tomb, president and CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners, which has chapters in 60 countries. “They have passion for an idea, a vision to succeed long-term after the business is launched, and a willingness and attitude to fail before you suc-

The Council on Women’s Leadership at Meridian http://www.meridian.org/cwl

says. “They are very resourceful, and they tend to be more cautious and riskaverse. Studies show that they are less likely than men to think they need startup capital.”

Networking groups and mentors can be of great benefit to women entrepreneurs, says Stuti Jalan, who was selected for the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program (http://goo.gl/QBdlS) in 2011

“

The overriding purpose of our networking is to break down the walls that women live with in their worlds...

”

Michele Manatt

Courtesy Crosshairs Communication

Chair and co-founder, Council on Women’s Leadership at Meridian.

and also participated in the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network sponsored by the computer manufacturer.

“Interacting with other entrepreneurs gave me more perspective,” says Jalan, founder of Crosshairs Communication, a public relations and brand consultancy with offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. “I was pretty content with the way my business was growing until 2011 and then I was told that I could really scale up my business, which gave me the belief that I could grow my company internationally.”

Women entrepreneurs are optimistic about others following in their footsteps.

“There’s more boldness in women,” says Borja of the National Women’s Business Council. “We’ve learned that you don’t just have to play it safe and that calculated risk is good. We’ve learned that it’s O.K. to shoot for the stars.”

Steve Fox is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Ventura, California.

Stuti Jalan

Founder, Crosshairs Communication.

MAY/JUNE 2013

19

Title IX and the success of American

Courtesy Georgetown University Sports Information

sportswomen.

Georgetown University volleyball middle blocker Lindsay Wise spikes the ball during a home game.

20 MAY/JUNE 2013

The

Game-Changer for

Girls

O

n a recent sunny spring afternoon in Maryland, a 16-year-old ballplayer steps up to home plate. Eyeing the pitcher with cool confidence, she takes a practice swing that puts the outfielders on alert. Her high school girls’ softball teammates holler from behind the dugout fence: “You got this, Emma!”

The pitcher launches the ball to the strike zone, and Emma Keyes’ bat meets the ball with a smack, sending it over the center fielder’s head.

A young girl playing sports is not a unique sight in America. However, the

scenario was different before 1972, when the U.S. Congress passed legislation to end sexual discrimination in federally funded education programs, driving a dramatic increase in athletic opportunities for women and girls. The law, known as Title IX, simply states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

In addition to providing equal sports

opportunities for boys and girls, compliance with Title IX meant the end of gender-biased school requirements, such as mechanics classes for boys and home economics (sewing and cooking) for girls. The law prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against pregnant and parenting students.

Universities could no longer pay and promote female staff and faculty at lower rates than their male counterparts, previously a widespread problem.

Athletic scholarships for girls had to equal those for boys, and girls’ teams

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SPORTS

By JANE VARNER MALHOTRA

ELAINE THOMPSON © AP-WWP

22 MAY/JUNE 2013

PAUL MORIGI © AP-W WWP/Invision for espnW

GENEVIEVE ROSS © AP-WWP

began to see improved facilities and better salaries for their coaches.

Suddenly, young female athletes moved from the sidelines to the playing field, from the cheerleading squad to center court as schools reached out to provide more athletic opportunities for girls.

During the past 40 years, the strides have been great. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations Athletics Participation Survey, 3.7 million boys competed in high school sports in 1972, but less than 300,000 girls did. By 2012, 4.5 million boys competed, but the number of girls participating in high school sports had risen 10-fold, to 3.2 million.

By the time Washington, D.C. softball coach Amy Thompson graduated from high school in 1986, athletic opportunities for young women had increased dramatically. “I played on the basketball, track and softball teams,” she recalls, “but I didn’t know what Title IX was. The school had to provide buses for us to get to games. We had a gym and use of a field.”

Now, Thompson’s daughters play softball for their high school and middle school teams, and she knows they benefit in many ways. “Team sports help girls develop confidence and opportunities for leadership. They learn time-management, cooperation and compromise. It also teaches them how to handle defeat and disappointment and, of course, helps them test their physical limits.”

Colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools across America continue to work on Title IX compliance.

Right: Stacey Marien (first row, far right) played for her high school softball team from 1977 to 1980.

Below: Minnesota Lynx’s Seimone Augustus (left) and Chicago Sky’s Tamera Young during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Minnesota in 2012. The league honored the 40th anniversary of Title IX on the players’ jerseys.

Organizations like the Women’s Sports Foundation, begun in 1974 by tennis legend Billie Jean King, help support the ongoing pursuit of greater equality and access for women in sports. According to their research, female high school athletes are more likely to get better grades

“

in school and more likely to graduate.

The foundation asserts that sport is where boys and girls learn teamwork, goal setting and the pursuit of excellence.

Through education, advocacy, research and grants for athletes, the organization—comprised of business leaders and

I think what Title IX has given to all... female athletes, particularly basketball players, is just to have dreams and goals and aspirations and to know that someday you would love to have that opportunity to make a living at what it is you love and for me, that was playing basketball.

”

—Sheryl Swoopes, three-time Olympic gold medalist, former professional basketball player, currently women’s basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago. She was the first player to be signed in the Women’s National Basketball Association when it was created in 1996.

Source: http://espn.go.com

in the 1970s. “The only sport for girls was cheerleading for the boys basketball team. In 7th grade, I wanted to try out for the baseball team but was denied,” she says. In 8th grade, Marien wanted to try out again, and was denied once more.

“This time, my father, an attorney, brought the case to the school board. I distinctly remember sitting at a table

President Barack Obama Reflects on the Impact of Title IX http://goo.gl/MlX8j

Before and After Title IX: A timeline http://goo.gl/gyFmd

http://goo.gl/iL7Sl

The Power of IX

http://espn.go.com/espnw/title-ix/

The Olympics and Title IX http://goo.gl/Hy8D9

“Let Me Play”

http://goo.gl/8szqV

“

Go Online

Women of the Obama Administration and Title IX

Above: espnW’s Title IX photo mosaic of female athletes is unveiled upon the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Right: Aly Marzonie (right) and Rachel Shellenback (second from right) of the New Trier High School girls’ soccer team prepare for a game in the Illinois High School Association girls’ soccer tournament.

with all these men, my father and me, and someone saying to my father, ‘Well if she wanted to play football, would you let her?’ My father said ‘yes.’ ” Marien’s request to be a full participant on the team was denied again, based on baseball being a ‘contact sport,’ she explains. “They said if I slid into base, I could hit my head. But my school let me stay on the team—I could practice and play in scrimmages, and I was the scorekeeper.

Honestly, I was better than most No person in the of the boys on the team.” One United States shall, positive result: the following year, the school started a softon the basis of sex, ball team for the girls. be excluded from A powerful hit from a teammate brings Keyes home participation in, be for the game-winning run. denied the benefits Elated coach and players mob together to form a bouncing of, or be subjected to group hug, then quickly line up discrimination under to shake hands with the opposing team. Win some, lose some, any education but in the end girls are playing program or activity more than ever, and that’s a win all around.

receiving Federal financial assistance.

”

Jane Varner Malhotra is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.

Girls participating in high school sports

3.2

1972

million 2012

Less than

300,000 Source: National Federation of State High School Associations Athletics Participation Survey

MARTHA IRVINE © AP-WWP

Courtesy Stacey Marien

Olympic champions—works to advance the lives of girls and women.

Back on the softball diamond, Emma Keyes’ hit sends her racing to second base, her teammates hooting and hollering in the dugout. Her mother, Stacey Marien, smiles with pride on the sidelines as she recalls her own experience in a small private school in Connecticut

MAY/JUNE 2013

23

Courtesy Tulsi for Hawaii

Winning Votes and Leading

Communities

By MICHAEL GALLANT

Women in the United States are becoming more involved in politics, affecting

change and inspiring others in the process.

24 MAY/JUNE 2013

T

Center for American Women and Politics http://cawp.rutgers.edu

Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy http://umb.edu/cwppp

Vital Voices

http://www.vitalvoices.org/vital-voices-women

“Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics” http://goo.gl/ZL4Hj

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

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POLITICS

Go Online

CHARLES DHARAPAK © AP-WWP

Tulsi Gabbard (center) is the Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District.

She is one of the first female combat veterans and first Hindu to serve as a member of the U.S. Congress.

here cannot be true democracy unless women’s voices are heard,” stated former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1997. “There cannot be true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives. There cannot be true democracy unless all citizens are able to participate fully in the lives of their country.”

Thanks to pioneering female politicians like Clinton, women’s voices are becoming more and more prevalent in American politics on local, state and national levels. In 2013, 101 women were sworn in as members of the U.S. Congress, the highest number ever. For many women in politics, service in public office brings great opportunities to change lives and inspire others—though such progress can bring significant challenges as well.

“Women in politics, whatever their ages, bring a different look at problems,” says Ann Kobayashi, a member of the Honolulu City Council in Hawaii who has served her local community for decades. “They are concerned about issues that men may also be concerned about, but that male politicians may not bring to the forefront when drafting legislation.”

Kobayashi cites early childhood education and educational and career opportunities for women as just a few of the areas where female politicians bring important perspectives to local community issues, though such topics are just the beginning. Within Honolulu, Kobayashi is currently working to remedy the city’s struggle with homelessness; one initiative involves low-income housing projects that will benefit artists.

Kobayashi’s areas of focus can also range from urban planning and upkeep to economic issues. “Parks are very important to communities, especially in cities, because they are places where families and friends can get together,” she says. “It’s also important to ask questions like, ‘Are taxes too high?’ ‘Do people have to work multiple jobs to get by?’ The economy seems to be the most important issue for

Courtesy U.S. Department of Labor

MARTIN SCHILLER/Courtesy Wikipedia CHARLES DHARAPAK © AP-WWP

many people, men and women,” she adds.

“It’s important as an elected official to know if people are struggling to make a living, and to find ways to help.”

Challenges and progress

Top: Ann Kobayashi is a member of the Honolulu City Council in Hawaii.

Above: Former U.S. Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

Above right: Former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis was one of the judges of the Equal Futures App Challenge (below). She also represented the 32nd Congressional District in California from 2001 to 2009.

Many female politicians have to counter troublesome preconceptions in their day-today work. In her book, “Representative Mom,” former U.S. Representative from New York Susan Molinari articulated the challenges that many women in politics face, writing: “There I’d be, in a war in Bosnia, and some reporter—usually female—would comment on how I was dressed, then turn to my male colleagues for answers to questions of substance.”

According to many other female politicians, including South Carolina Governor Nikki

Haley, Molinari’s experience was, unfortunately, far from unique. Speaking at a discussion of her book “Can’t Is Not an Option” in 2012, Governor Haley told the audience at the American Enterprise Institute that she fields plenty of criticism for her clothing and accessory choices, according to an article in washingtonexaminer.com.

In spite of such frustrations, female politicians across the United States continue to make their voices heard. For girls and women aspiring to follow in their footsteps, Kobayashi recommends becoming active in the local community “so you’ll know what platform to run for office on, and why,” she says. “It’s important to know what the issues of your community are and it’s not the same everywhere. Start in your own neighborhood and then go out into the community as a whole to find out what people need, what government is doing that’s right for people, and what it’s doing that isn’t right for people.”

And if Kobayashi herself is any example, simply the act of working as a female politician can inspire other women to follow a similar path. The Honolulu council member cites former U.S. Representative and Assistant Secretary of State Patsy Mink as a great role model when she herself was thinking of running for office. “She was in Congress for many, many years and she advocated for women’s issues,” says Kobayashi.

Michael Gallant is the founder and chief executive officer of Gallant Music. He lives in New York City.

Designing Apps for Equality

I

n September 2012, the White House Council on Women and Girls began a contest for young people: The Equal Futures App Challenge encouraged participants to create an app that inspires girls to learn about, and participate in, public leadership.

A daunting task? Perhaps, but one that could go in any number of creative directions. App designers competing in the contest could choose to have their technologies educate girls about strong women in positions of public leadership, or provide advice on how girls can become

strong leaders themselves.

Equally valid would be teaching girls about political issues that affect them and giving them the tools to reach out to their elected officials, or giving them a behindthe-scenes look at what it takes to run a political campaign.

“I’d be very interested in learning about the entire process of running for office; from start to finish,” wrote 17-year-old Jennifer Nguyen, who drew a detailed sketch of an educational app she would like to see and use. She also wrote about her interest in learning how to

become a leader: “I’d like to learn about how to be confident and to be able to speak eloquently. Also, what does it take to be a great leader? What characteristics does a good leader have and shouldn’t have?”

Helping judge the entries was

a panel of lawmakers and technology experts including member of the Kansas House of Representatives Barbara Ballard, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis.

In April, Girl emPower, created

by Laura Phelps and Andrew Cavanagh, was selected as the notable app. Besides videos of women leaders, this free iPad app includes a collection of fun facts about how the U.S. government works. Visit equalfutures.

M.G. challenge.gov to learn more. —M

Reimagining

Women

Theater Through

Through their productions, American theater groups challenge traditional mind-sets about women.

T

Julie Proudfoot, the founding artistic director of Artemisia Theatre.

o understand the mission of Artemisia Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, it helps to understand where the company got its name.

“Artemisia Gentileschi was a Baroque painter who, until the 1970s, was essentially invisible,” says Julie Proudfoot, Artemisia’s founding artistic director. “Before then, her paintings had been attributed to men. She painted women performing strong, and sometimes, violent acts—and nobody thought that a woman would paint such things.”

“That’s such a snapshot of our mission,” Proudfoot continues. “Through our produc-

tions, we want to challenge our audience’s perception of who women are, and what they can and cannot do.”

Artemisia was founded in 2011 and has grown in popularity over the last two years.

“We look for plays that are female-driven and well-written, and that fulfill our mission of challenging how audiences think about women,” Proudfoot says. “Then we select five or six that we think are the best and have staged readings and audience discussions after each reading. The audience selects which play we fully produce. It’s really up to them to

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THEATER

A scene from “Wit,” which tells the story of a university professor dying of ovarian cancer. The play was produced on Broadway and other theaters, including the American Stage Theatre Company in Florida.

Courtesy Artemisia

ROMAN BLACK/Courtesy American Stage Theatre Company

By MICHAEL GALLANT

Washington Women in Theatre http://www.washingtonwit.org/

The Black Women Playwrights’ Group http://www.blackwomenplaywrights.org

Women in Theater http://goo.gl/L09IA

decide which one challenges their perceptions the most.”

The play that Artemisia’s audience chose for production in the fall of 2013 is Ross Tedford Kendall’s edgy “Gambit,” which tells the story of a powerful, female U.S. attorney and her niece. “The aunt is a single woman who has devoted herself to her career her whole life, and the niece is incredibly intelligent, but rebellious and volatile,” describes Proudfoot. “At one point, they play a game of chess at a very high level on stage and argue over the niece’s future. Political and social points of law come up and it’s a very intense encounter.”

At the end of the play’s reading, Proudfoot and her colleagues asked the audience if their perceptions had indeed been challenged—and the answer was an overwhelming “yes.” “They weren’t used to seeing young women respond like the niece did, or stories that depict women as forceful United States attorneys or chess masters,” says Proudfoot.

“So the play did its job.”

Artemisia is not the only theater organization using its artistic power to make audiences question stereotypes about women. Washington Women in Theatre, for example, works to promote women’s music and theater projects “dealing with political, social and historical issues from a women’s perspective,” while adapting its creative work to the political climate of the nation’s

28 MAY/JUNE 2013

Michael Gallant is the founder and chief executive officer of Gallant Music. He lives in New York City.

S

ome plays that challenge conceptions about women have received widespread visibility and acclaim. First produced in 2000, American playwright David Auburn’s play “Proof” tells the story of Catherine, a brilliant young woman who struggles with a legacy, left to her by her deceased father, of both genius and mental illness. The play ran on Broadway in New York, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. It was made into a motion picture in 2005.

Artemisia Theatre’s Julie Proudfoot recommends “The Hunger Games,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Gone With The Wind” as examples of movies that effectively challenge perceptions of women. She also points to Alice Walker’s book “The Color Purple,” and plays like —M.G. Margaret Edson’s “Wit.”

“Proof “ Trying to teach young kids how to write effective heroines is very enlightening.

ROMAN BLACK/Courtesy American Stage Theatre Company

Go Online

Artemisia Theatre http://www.artemisiatheatre.org

capital. Another Washington, D.C. organization, the Black Women Playwrights’ Group, supports theatrical productions that focus on moments when an audience’s assumptions about women may be far from reality.

“My playwright members write about critical moments when, unfortunately, girls get passed over or treated differently for this reason or that reason,” says Karen Evans, the group’s founder and president. “It’s a shame that, with the current generation, young women often don’t realize when they are being slighted. My members really do get to that moment of decision in their plays.”

For Evans, the act of writing and depicting such moments on stage, no matter how tragic the scene, can help young women in real life. “We’ve done a lot of work in schools and trying to teach young kids how to write effective heroines is very enlightening,” she says with a laugh. “It can be a struggle and it doesn’t seem to come as a natural inclination. When I tell a student that the female character in his or her play has to step up and take charge, there’s this moment of realization where he or she just lights up and understands. And it can be the same way when you are seeing a play performed live.”

For anyone who wants to challenge preconceptions about women through theater, Evans offers the following advice: “Write, write, write,” she says.

“Write whatever comes to you, whether it’s a play or poetry, as long as it has a strong narrative voice. Perform it yourself, if you are not too shy. On the most immediate level that you can, produce it yourself, too—at your church, school, community center—because nobody is going to come in and say, ‘let me produce your play!’ Just create your own content, whatever the form. As long as there is a strong narrative voice, you can perform it, so get it on its feet in front of people and see what happens.”

”

MARK GARVIN/Courtesy Walnut Street Theatre MARK GARVIN/Courtesy Walnut Street Theatre

http://goo.gl/8OfVE

MARK GARVIN/Courtesy Walnut Street Theatre

f”in the Play

David Auburn’s PROOF: Part One

Top, center and left: Scenes from the play “Proof,” which stars Alex Kelper as Catherine and Bill Van Horn as her father.

Far left: A scene from “Wit.”

BILL EICHENLAUB/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

An

Alaskan Treat

By STEVE FOX

T

he ice ages are ancient history—or are they? Visitors to Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve can today travel along sculpted shorelines and among scenic islands that were completely covered by ice just 250 years ago. Part of a world heritage site that is one of Earth’s largest protected areas, this magnificent park encompasses 1.3 million hectares of rugged mountains, stunning glaciers, temperate rain forest, wild coastlines and deep sheltered fjords.

“The primary reason for coming to Glacier Bay is to see existing tidewater glaciers,” says Supervisory Park Ranger Laura Buchheit, who began working at the park in the 1990s, and now lives there. “Most of the glaciers are diminishing in size, yet due to the topography of tall coastal mountains, two of the tidewater glaciers are growing. Visitors are in a temperate rain forest in the morning, then staring at an active tidewater glacier in an ice age scene by lunch.”

32 MAY/JUNE 2013

Glacier Bay offers a variety of adventure activities for all budgets, including

TRAVEL

kayaking, whale watching, sportfishing, mountain climbing, beachcombing, flightseeing, camping and birding.

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Courtesy Alaska Mountain Guides

Located on Alaska’s Inside Passage, a coastal route for oceangoing vehicles along the Pacific Coast of North America, and about 100 kilometers northwest of the state’s capital city, Juneau, Glacier Bay is an incredibly dynamic environment. Visitors can hear the majestic glaciers growl as they scour the rocky landscape below and watch huge slabs of ice break off and plunge into the salt water. All around, change is dramatic.

“The glacial retreat is the fastest in recorded history,” Buchheit says, noting that the resulting landscape is—geologically speaking—brand new.

“Wildlife has moved in as vegetation has taken root, from brown bears, wolves and moose to humpback whales, orca and puffins. It is an amazing, awe-inspiring place for researchers and visitors alike.”

Glacier Bay offers a variety of adventure activities for all budgets, including kayaking, whale watching, sportfishing, mountain climbing, beachcombing, flightseeing (sightseeing from planes), camping and birding.

About 450,000 people visit the park every year, most by cruise ships on seven or 10-day round-trip voyages from Seattle, Washington or Vancouver, Canada. The primary cruise lines are Princess, Holland America and Norwegian. Prices, which include cabin and meals, begin at around $750, with 34 MAY/JUNE 2013

additional fees for various shore excursions. There are no roads to the park, so visitors must come by boat or plane. However, travelers on tight budgets can bring camping gear and use the Alaskan ferry system to reach the tiny town of Gustavus (yearround population 450), about 16 kilometers from the park headquarters in Bartlett Cove, where there is a small campsite. Reservations are required.

Although native Tlingit people have lived in the area for many hundreds of years, Gustavus itself began as an agricultural homestead in 1923. Most current residents work for the park or associated tourism facilities. The town’s population doubles during the summer, when locals grow flowers, strawberries and vegetables in gardens surrounded by awe-inspiring views of snowcapped mountain ranges.

“Some of the most common questions are about what it’s like to live here year-round,” Buchheit says. “A lot of it, I think, is that people are trying to grasp the immensity of the landscape and it’s so hard to comprehend that people ask about the human aspect. I tell them it’s amazing to be able to live surrounded by wilderness and the opportunities it provides for adventure and challenge and solitude.”

The park is always open—“there’s no gate to

Above: The Glacier Bay sea kayaking trip explores the famous West Arm of Glacier Bay.

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

BILL EICHENLAUB/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

BILL EICHENLAUB/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

BILL EICHENLAUB/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service CHAD SOISETH/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

Top left: Hikers at Glacier Bay. Above left: A tourist explores a glacier at the park.

Left: Halibut fishing in Glacier Bay.

Top: Tourists watch sea lions resting on rocks.

Above: Camping is among a variety of adventure activities available in Glacier Bay.

MAY/JUNE 2013

35

Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

close,� Buchheit jokes—but almost all visitors come between late May and early September, when temperatures range between 10 degrees to 15 degrees Celsius and the usual weather forecast is rain.

Visitors should have waterproof boots and other rain gear, including hats, gloves and a warm coat.

Lodging, groceries, restaurants and taxi service are available in Gustavus, and more than 50 companies provide access to the park.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve http://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm

Glacier Bay videos http://www.youtube.com/user/GlacierBayNPS

Alaskan ferry system

Top: Visitors getting ready to kayak near Glacier Bay Lodge.

Center: Hikers explore the Forest Loop Trail.

Above: A toddler tries his hand at fishing.

36 MAY/JUNE 2013

Above right: A Glacier Bay swim team.

Right: A tourist shows off an unusual catch.

KEVIN FRALEY/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

SUSAN BALES/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

T. RAINS/Courtesy U.S. National Park Service

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

Gustavus http://www.gustavusak.com/

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Steve Fox is a freelance writer, former newspaper publisher and reporter based in Ventura, California.

Succeeding

Graduate School in

America

By DON MARTIN and WESLEY TETER

Photographs Š Getty Images

in

Tips for EDUCATION

a successful and fulfilling student experience.

To share articles go to http://span.state.gov MAY/JUNE 2013 37

C

ongratulations! You have started your graduate program of study. All of your hard work, preparation and planning have paid off and you are about to participate in orientation for incoming students, register for the upcoming term, and head to your first class.

Many students from India come to the United States for graduate study each year.

That means that you will find other students who share your ethnic and cultural background on campus. While it is nice to have a network of friends from your home country, it is equally important to interact with people from different cultures and backmeet them and, as a result, feel like you grounds—both for your intellectual growth have failed in some way. Think realistiand for the expansion of your social sphere. cally about what you can and cannot do.

Here are some tips for ensuring a successful and personally fulfilling student experience.

1. Set priorities and

3. If you need help, ask

Do you believe you need some academic help? Ask for it. Are you struggling with stress, anxiety or depression? Reach out. Are you experiencing financial diffiThis is your time. This is your graduculties? Talk about it. Holding things in ate degree. Determine what you want from this experience. On one side of the and not addressing growing issues will only result in more difficulty down the spectrum, some graduate students will road. Have you received a grade you do want to spend time primarily reading, not believe to be fair? Remember, faculty studying and doing research. On the members are not perfect. They may make other end, some students may not focus a mistake or simply overlook something. solely on academics. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, this is your experience. If you believe you know the faculty memOnly you can and should set the prioriber well enough, go and speak with her ties. Graduate study offers a chance to or him directly about your concerns. If delve into issues, ideas, authors, connot, you can consult with an academic cepts, research and debate in ways you advisor or someone on campus who is may never experience again. While social identified as a student advocate. life is important and advancing your career is admirable, do not miss the opportunities you will have to broaden your horizons intellectually.

Graduate school enrollments are lower than those of undergraduate institutions.

The admissions process is more selective.

This means that you are now rubbing elbows with some very capable, commitVery few people we know are able to do ted, intelligent and goal-oriented individuals who are ready and willing to do everything well, all the time. As you set your priorities, be careful not to set them what it takes to succeed. But keep this in mind: you were also admitted to be a so high that you end up being unable to

stick to them

4. Be yourself

2.

Operate with realistic expectations

38 MAY/JUNE 2013

member of your academic community.

The admissions committee saw in you what it did in your classmates. Be confident of your talent and abilities, of your thoughts and ideas. Learn from those around you, but do not allow yourself to feel inferior or that you do not also have something to contribute.

5.

Take advantage of the career placement office

Some graduate students may already have their future employment confirmed when they begin their studies. Most do not. That is why there is a career placement office on campus. Take advantage of the resources of this office. Do not wait until six months before graduation to reach out. The staff is willing and able to assist you with a host of services, including résumé and interview preparation, information on potential employers, “meet the recruiters” events and so much more. Take this service seriously. After all, you are paying for it.

6.

Have fun and do not forget life outside the classroom

The pressures of graduate school can be great. There is endless studying, numerous deadlines, a desire to get good

Photographs © Getty Images

grades, preparation for career next steps, financial concerns, and more.

It is important that you take time to smell the roses and do things that are fun and enjoyable. Go out for a bite to eat. Take in a movie or theater performance. Attend a sporting event. Do some volunteer work. Get away for the weekend and explore the United States.

7.

Do not obsess about grades, ranking

and reputation of your institution Success in life is not directly correlated with one’s grade point average or with the ranking of his or her institution. Employers are going to be most interested in who you are and how strong a match they believe you are to what they are looking for. While academic performance is a consideration, it is not the final dealmaker or breaker by any means.

Also, rankings will definitely

fluctuate; they rarely stay the same.

Focus on doing your best with integrity. Work hard and be confident of yourself and your abilities.

Don Martin is a former admissions dean at Columbia, University of Chicago and Northwestern; and author of “Road Map for Graduate Study.”

Wesley Teter is a former regional director for EducationUSA in New Delhi.

He is also the editor of the multimedia outreach campaign, 10 Steps to Study in the United States.

First Days at a U.S.University T

he first few days at your U.S. college or university can be truly exciting, but also overwhelming as you get organized and settle in. You will want to let your family know you arrived safely, get to know the campus, meet some new people, select classes and complete all the requirements for registration and enrollment. But don’t worry—you do not have to do all of this on your own.

New student orientation programs are a

perfect opportunity to accomplish all of these tasks, attend campus social events planned especially for new students, and help ease the transition to a new place. It is normal to experience some level of culture shock when you first move to a new country. Relax and enjoy the ride.

Source: www.EducationUSA.info— Get Ready to Go (https://www. educationusa.info/)

MAY/JUNE 2013

39

he Next Great Entrepreneur, a business plan competition for undergraduates in New Delhi and the national capital region, was organized in March to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen U.S.-India business ties. Three teams were honored—Life on Wheels (left), a microfinance project supporting rickshaw pullers; Laadli, which aims to produce low cost, reusable sanitary napkins for rural Indian women and Electric Auto Rickshaws—in the General Business, Women’s Empowerment and Green Business categories. The event was organized by the U.S. Embassy, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Indian Angel Network. The winners received the opportunity to be incubated as well as Rs. 1 lakh each. http://www.nextgreatentrepreneur.in MICKY WISWEDEL

Courtesy FICCI

KATE HAUSCHKA

T

hree Indian brothers received the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in March (far right).

Ravi, Rishi and Nishi Kant, who started the nongovernmental organization Shakti Vahini to fight violence and injustice against women and children in 2001, won the “Solidarity Award” at an event at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Over the past decade, Shakti Vahini has rescued more than 2,000 people, 70 percent of whom were children. Vital Voices, which was started by former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton in 1997, also holds Shakti Vahini as a model NGO, “one that addresses legal, advocacy and rescue missions simultaneously,” says the Washington Post. http://ht.ly/jJyjl

ndian American astronaut Sunita Williams, who holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman astronaut, interacted with students and space enthusiasts during a weeklong visit to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (right) in April. Williams shared interesting incidents from her life and cited her own example while telling students that no dream is too small. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/williams-s.html

AJIT SOLANKI © AP-WWP

I T Photographs by HEMANT BHATNAGAR

H

ighlights,” a popular American children’s publication, unveiled “Highlights Champs” and “Highlights Genies,” their best-selling kids’ magazines adapted for Indian children by publishers Delhi Press. Launching the magazines at the New Delhi American Center in April, U.S. Ambassador Nancy J. Powell (below) talked about the importance of developing a love for reading among children. According to Andrew Shafran (above left), vice president international at Highlights, the U.S. magazines reach more than 2 million homes each month and celebrate children’s experiences in different cultures. http://www.highlights.com

Left: “Bharti Sheed from a tribal hamlet in Pen, Raigad district was selected for airhostess training in 2007. She is one of the few girls from Thakur tribe to have graduated,” by Prashant Nadkar from Mumbai, won the first prize in the Best Story category.

Below: “ ‘What we Believe, We Achieve.’ The women in the photo are lifting up their ‘Kayak’ after a day long practice for the Annual Regatta (A series of boat racing events),” by Akash M. Ajgaonkar from Pune, won the first prize for Best Creative Lighting.

Bottom left: “Dekhne do dekhna hai tamasha jinhe dur se, Ab hum utar chuke hai maindane jang main.... at Wagah Border, Amritsar,” by Aditi Gajjar from Mumbai, won the prize for Best Overall picture.

Bottom right: “Motherhood,” by Harnesh Joshi, won the Judge’s Favorite award.

Ordinary Women,

Extraordinary Work

T

Registered under RNI-6586/60

he U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai received an overwhelming response to its annual online photo contest organized in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in March. Fans were invited to send their entries on “Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Work” via e-mail and Twitter. Winners were announced in April, and can be seen at http://goo.gl/XBSNf