This is from the United Nations and was adopted in 1948, before many of us were born. All women should be aware of this document. It’s a long document, but I encourage you to read it, or at the least, skim through it. It makes an interesting set of standards by which to evaluate politicians and the government of any nation, including the United States. Whether you are a fan of the United Nations or not, this document has much to recommend it and was put together by people of many nations. I’ve taken the liberty of altering the few, random, gender-specific pronouns — just because it seemed the right thing to do. Those edits appear in [] brackets. Here, for your edification, is something important.

Adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears here. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories.”

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if [people are not] to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women [original language] and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted [them] by the constitution or by law.

Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of [their] rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against [them].

Article 11. (1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which [they have] had all the guarantees necessary for [a] defence. (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with []privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon [] honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. (2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including [their]own, and to return to [their] country.

Article 14. (1) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. (2) This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15. (1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of [their] nationality nor denied the right to change [] nationality.

Article 16. (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17. (1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of [their] property.

Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest [a] religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. (2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21. (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of [their] country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in [their] country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for dignity and the free development of [their] personality.

Article 23. (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for [her/himself] and [their] family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of [their] interests.

Article 24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of [her/himself] and of [their] family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond [their] control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27. (1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. (2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which [s]he is the author.

Article 28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29.

(1) Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of [their] personality is possible. (2) In the exercise of [one's] rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society. (3) These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Getting into Washington or world politics is like shooting for the Olympics, many try, few are chosen. But it isn’t impossible to become a politico, especially on a local, state or regional basis. From studies, we know people tend to trust unknown women more than unknown men, so you have a leg-up, so to speak. Here are some tips.

Become a Politician

How long should it take? At least a year or more, in most cases. Often longer. Here’s what to do:

1. First become an actor. That quip out of the way, there are things you really can do to get involved in the front lines of politics, especially local politics. Some jobs are volunteer, like municipal councils in small towns, but many are paid positions. You won’t get rich quick, particularly if you act honestly and ethically, but you can make a positive difference in your community. It takes time to get up to speed on issues. Who knows - you might end up among the big-dealers.
2. Become visible in your community. Volunteer to serve on boards and committees. Develop a point-of-view on salient issues and let people know you have a position. Write letters to editors. Call talk shows if they exist in your area. Attend political meetings, lectures and gatherings. Go to council meetings. Join local organizations and make yourself known in a positive way.
3. Volunteer. Voters want to see community involvement and concern. If you’re going to represent them, they want to know you’re hands-on, not a figurehead or a diva. Let people see that you’re not in it for ego strokes, but a sense of ownership in the community. Volunteering is also a great way to meet people. Offer to do PR for boards you serve on - that gets you “face time” when the media comes around.
4. Develop communication skills. Fine tune your writing, speaking and problem solving skills. Read about the political constituency you’re shooting for and brainstorm solutions to questions in front of them. If you find a workable solution, attend a meeting and explain your idea, or write a letter. Visualize both sides of questions you ponder. Pay attention to detail and train yourself to accurately remember what you see and hear.
5. Become an expert. If you’re really into it, consider a degree in law, business, economics or politics. Select two or three issues terribly important to the consituency and study them. Read, explore, inquire. Find out everything you can. Spend time considering the issues and figuring out where you really stand. Be able to explain an issue and your stance clearly, in less than 60 seconds.
6. Learn the rules for candidates. When it’s time to create ballots, every community publishes requirements. You can probably get those rules in advance from city hall, county offices, or the state capital, depending on the road you’ve chosen. Often, you need a number of signatures from constituents before you can be on a ballot. Find out what you need, and get it done early.
7. Learn what the parties stand for. On the local level, learn what each opposing group sees as their platform. What are they for? What will they do if elected? What are they against? See if you agree with any particular group. Do the same with the national
   

Regardless of where you stand on the emotional issue of abortion, it’s important to understand what pro-choice proponents stand for. Part of being a woman of the 21st Century is having the facts in our complicated world. Ready? Read on.

Pro-Abortion May Not Be Quite Accurate

Pro-choice proponents, by and large, don’t stand on abortion as their sole platform. True pro-choicers put an umbrella term reproductive freedom on top their priorities list. Activist group, the Center for Reproductive Rights, defines such freedom this way, “reproductive rights, the foundation for women’s self-determination over their bodies and sexual lives, are critical to women’s equality and to ensuring global progress toward just and democratic societies.”

The Reproductive Rights, Itemized

1. The right to a full range of safe, affordable contraception
2. Access and the right to safe, accessible, legal abortion
3. The right to safe, healthy pregnancies
4. The right to comprehensive reproductive health care provided free of discrimination, coercion, and violence
5. The right to equal access to reproductive health care for women who may be subject to social/economic barriers
6. The right to be free from practices that harm women and girls (like female genital mutilation)
7. The right to private, confidential doctor-patient relationships

It’s Not About Advising Women to Have Abortions

Pro-Choice thinkers say their belief in the movement doesn’t mean they would have an abortion or advise anyone else to do so. It means, according to disseminated information, that women, not governments, should control their own reproductive systems and their bodies. That’s one of the basic principles of feminism.

Other Notable Groups

The CRR, is a non-profit organization, formed in 1992. They use the law to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental right. Two well-known representatives of the pro-choice philosophy are also long-established, non-profit entities. NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) Pro-Choice America was formed in 1977 and the National Organization for Women has been around since 1966. NOW is, arguably, the largest, defining their member profile as feminist ativists.

Working for the Rights of Women of Color

One priority on NARAL’s list is Women of Color, who, the group says, face higher maternal-mortality rates and acute STD/HIV rates. They are more likely to encounter financial barriers to good health care including birth control, and obstacles to pain management partially due to limited English proficiency.

NOW’s Platform Is Broad and Deep

NOW’s platform is widely encompassing: “…to bring about equality for all women…to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; to secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; to end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society.”

What the Groups Do Day-to-Day

Those groups, and others, publish extensive information. Much of it, as you would expect from any special interest groups, is biased to their way of thinking. But nonetheless, they are the sources should you want to know more about. These organizations, like pro-life groups do, lobby the legislature, work through legal channels to bring about change, and work to change social climates and public opinion.

More:

A pro-choice student network

Young Women’s Leadership

The opposing point of view

Republicans for Choice

Women Day by Day

Newsweek recently dedicated an entire issue to women and the challenges we face. I was drawn to the section about young women who stand out in the crowd. Newsweek invited 20 high-profile women under 40 to write a sort of essay about their success. Here are reviews of the top ten of those potential leaders.

Danica Patrick – Sports
Danica Sue Patrick was born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin. She says her competitiveness began when she was ten and that’s when she began racing vehicles. Go-Karts on a real racetrack. She says the desire to overtake others is in her blood. She’s proud of her body and her looks, but more concerned with her skill and drive to succeed (pun intended). As do most people who have attained their dream, she advises choosing something you’re passionate about and not letting go. Judging from all that, and her ability to think on her feet to make solid decisions, at least behind the wheel, she might well become a leader when she gains some maturity and life experience. But what remains to be seen is, can she maintain the track she’s on and accelerate her skills?

Queen Latifah – Entertainment
Dana Owens was born in Newark, New Jersey, March 18, 1970. Though she called herself Latifah while still pretty much a child, Queen Latifah, her iconic alter-ago was born in 1989 with the release of her first album All Hail the Queen. Unless you’ve been in a convent for the past ten years, you know her TV and movie careers. She’s sitting on top of the entertainment industry, with a diversity of talent that takes her from comedy to drama to commercials and from hip-hop to big band standards. She’s credible and joyful in each iteration. She’s also a capable, intelligent business women and a down-to-Earth human being with close family ties. The tragic death of her brother some years ago forced her to face her life in an adult context. Queen Latifa believes women can do anything they want, if they’re willing to struggle for it and climb over stumbling blocks along the way. She’s a real proponent of empowerment of women, and especially espouses the idea of women bonding to empower each other. Because of her unusual beauty, which doesn’t fit the ideal of Hollywood, and her assertively delightful outlook, she has become a role model. Considering Dana’s career and the context of her life, I believe she’s poised to have even more of an influence on young women than she has so far.

Karenna Gore Schiff – Lawyer/Author
Karenna Gore Schiff, daughter of former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, was born August 6, 1973 in Tennesee. Wikipedia.com reports, “In 1991, when Karenna was just 17 (and her father was still a Senator) she won the Tennessee Water Skiing Championships and placed first in the jumping and slalom categories at West Memphis, Arkansas. *shrug* Karenna learned the news business by working with television and newspapers, in Tennessee and New Orleans, after college. Her byline has been featured in major publications, perhaps most recognizably in an article carried by Glamour magazine . She had a lot to say about the current Bush administration. Her concentration now, as a Harvard graduate, has been in business. She’s a personage at a non-profit called The Association to Benefit Children. Karenna says she may run for office someday but she currently invests a lot of energy in her husband and two children. She has also said she sees a lot not to like about politics. Karenna believes you learn by doing and that women should immerse themselves in a variety of experiences. She has certainly lived what she believes, having gotten experience in media, writing, politics, and the non-profit sector, which, she says, has given her a lot of insight. This year, her book, Lighting the Way: Nine Women Who Shaped Modern America was published, giving her a $200,000 advance. My first thought on that topic is, I wonder if Karenna would have that book picked up if her name were Jones and her father were a blue-collar worker in Tennessee. But her gumption recommends her and you can find evidence that she’s self-reliant. Her energy will see her through tough spots, especially if she continues to rely more on her own talent than on her dad’s connections.

Mary Cheney – Political Campaigner
Lesbian daughter of Vice President Cheney. She’s another political offspring. Perhaps not as self-reliant as Karenna. Mary Cheney was born March 14, 1969. My issue here is, every-day people know of her first as a Lesbian, then as a something-else. Mary was, for some years, a sort of poster child for the Gay Community. Known possibly in name only, she was a subject of poems and essays. Then, suddenly, John Kerry dropped her name like a bomb linked with the L word. John Edwards reinforced it a week later and everyone knew her name. Still, just a name. Since then, Mary has become what you might call well-known. But is she? Can you say, in 50 words or less, what she does or has done? If she is to become a leader of the future, doesn’t she need more than her sexual preference supporting her? Has working for the Coor’s Beer company prepared her to be a leader? In saying her piece about leadership in Newsweek, she talked about Dad, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, politics in the family, working for Dad, and Dad’s health. The way I read it, unless Dick Cheney’s health dramatically turns around and he becomes a world leader, Mary is going to be a family-oriented also-ran. Which isn’t all bad, but doesn’t qualify her as a future leader. Unless, like mom, she becomes a writer. That she does very well. By herself.

Marissa Mayer – Search Products, Google
Born May 30, 1975 in Waussau, WI, Marissa Mayer is techno guru at Google with vice presidential status. Now, here we have a real frontrunner for future leader status. The old Midwestern work ethic has kicked right in. She’ll do it in business, of course, but someone might want to encourage her to think about public office. She makes public appearances for the firm and is as charismatic as Bill Clinton, as energetic as Ellen Digeneris, and as savvy as a young Bill Gates. She has a Stanford Masters in Computer Science and was the first woman engineer Google hired – in their very first batch of employees. Just the fact that her intuition made her take a risk with that particular new-born business tells you a ton about her. She describes her college major as “Symbolic Systems, combining philosophy, linguistics, psychology and computer science.” Nice one. Her take on herself is that she’s good at grabbing a spark of an idea and polishing it to radiance. Ok – that was what happened at Google, isn’t it? I like best her comment that thinking of women as overly emotional at work is an outdated cliché. She believes leaders have to be approachable and consistent. Good pick, Newsweek. This woman is gonna be one of the first business people to set up shop at some space station in 20 years. You read it here first.

Sarah Chang – Violinist
Her birthday is December 10,1980 and she was born to Korean parents in Philadelphia, PA. Sarah Chang picked up the violin at the age of four because she wanted something smaller and more portable than the piano, which her mom had hooked her up with at age 3. At 8, auditions brought her immediate bookings with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra, if you can handle that. An 8 year old…think about the poise and self-assurance it must have taken. In 1999 she graduated high school, and also the pre-college program at Julliard (she started there at age 6). Sarah has won a boatload of awards and recognitions, is known worldwide, and out-performs a whole lot of people in her field. She’s what, 26? Sarah says she sees each concert as a new and magical experience, even if she does a couple of hundred in a season. That’s a skill leaders simply must have – the ability to maintain a fresh point-of-view. Though she has visited and performed in Korea, she describes herself as “very much an American.” With her vision and talent, she should be around for awhile and will almost certainly be a long-term contender in her field.

Maria Celeste Arraras - Broadcast Journalist
If it looks like being daughter to a mover and shaker gets you free passes to instant stardom, think about this woman. A broadcast journalist and writer, Maria Celest Arraras was born September 22, 1961 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico where her father was an important university chancellor. The Puerto Rican newspapers call her a Latina Katie Couric, and not because of her father’s coattails. She has a reputation for being assertive and opinionated with a passion for excellence. I love that the most memorable advice from her father was about schoolwork. He told her she could bring home an A grade or an F grade. Be the best of the best or the best of the worst, but never mediocre. Maria says that influenced her life. She worked her way up on her own from lowly cub reporter jobs to authoring several books and evolving into a highly sought-after broadcast journalist. She is proud of her Latina heritage. She told Al Roker, “There are 32 million Latinos in this country, which is the equivalent of the population of Canada. It was inevitable that eventually we would let ourselves be heard and noticed everywhere, including television. That’s why I’m here.” Having already done top-drawer work on Telemundo network and The Today Show, she has the self-esteem and courage to say she gives herself an “A” at this point.

Renee Reijo Pera – Infertility Researcher, UCSF
There’s a lot of talk about us females not having the right kind of brain for science and math. But here’s another woman top-of-the-top scientist in very up and coming fields, infertility and genetics. She chose that direction because she sees it as a major health problem, not a minor inconvenience. And she understands how devastatingly it can affect a couple. She’s 47 and about to become a mother – adopting a child from Guatemala. Having had surgery for ovarian cancer means she’ll not have biological children. She believes women can manage a career and a family but they need to be extremely flexible to make it work. She has a clear understanding that men’s lives become more complicated when they parent children, as well. Her work involves stem-cell research — specifically studying how to cause a human stem cell to become a germ cell (sperm or egg). It takes courage and discipline to work in a controversial field of research like that. It takes passion and high self-esteem, recurring themes in this list. Even though it’s been historically trendy to see women as the “culprits” in infertile couples, this scientist doesn’t concern herself with nonsense like that. She has identified causes in both sexes and helped bring about solutions. Her students call her a role model. You can’t miss the compassion component when you delve into this woman’s profile. The mix seems right for her to end up at the top, passing her wealth of data, information and success to young medical professionals who’ll carry it forward. We need that, yes?

Gwen Sykes – Chief Financial Officer, NASA
Born at West Point. Moved to Alaska at age 5 and grew up among what she calls “environmental folks”. Later, as an adult with the Defense Contract Audit Agency, she served as a legislative correspondent for Senator Ted Stevens. That put her in a position to coordinate activities protecting Alaska’s fishery industry during the Valdez oil spill. But first, she went to college in Washington, D.C. and was bowled over with culture shock. Her mind works like this: You don’t have to be perfect to be successful. She does public speaking at schools. and one thing she tells kids is she carried a D in algebra. But her family, recognizing the challenge before her, worked her through it. That’s part of the message she has for kids – bond with your family and utilize all your potential even when the going gets a little funky. She believes women can’t have it all, a refreshing point of view. Divorced, she recognizes we have to make choices. Career or family. What type of partner will support our dreams and goals? Gwen thinks you have to understand what means a lot to you and pursue it. If it’s career, then your spouse must be someone who can value your drive and energy, not resent it. If it’s family, then career needs to be lower key, so family can be the priority. Obviously, she’s made some appropriate choices for herself and is working with children to enable their abilities to make good choices, too. That’s the kind of leadership that will save the world.

Tracy Reese – Fashion Designer
Born in Detroit, Reese received an accelerated degree from Parsons School of Design in 1984, after which she joined a firm in Paris as an assistant to designer Martine Sitbon. There’s not much info online about her personal life. She produced her own fashion collection for a couple years. Then she hooked up with Perry Ellis, directing Women’s Portfolio. Paris Hilton and Mira Sorvino are fans – they, among other high-profiles, wear her clothes. Some call Tracy the next Donna Karan, but it looks like she’ll be quite happy with being the first Tracy Reese. Her essay for Newsweek is straight-forward and makes you want to go out and meet her. She began at a level where most of us begin in our jobs, sewing on buttons and rushing to handle all her own details before deadline. She seems to understand what women want to wear and she allows her modern ideas to be tempered by influences from the past. Surviving in the fashion world takes nerves of steel, enormous flexibility and pure talent. If you have all those without innate intelligence and business acuity, you’re done for. Tracy demonstrates all of the above and appears to have what it takes to come out on top as a person to reckon with.

What’s Missing?
I was surprised that the piece didn’t consider women who will make a difference in education. It seems leadership examples should also include someone whose focus is healthy family life. Maybe we can add to the list.

Conclusion
There are a lot of high-power young women around who will undoubtedly be major components of this nation’s future. I imagine that’s true in other parts of the world. I’d like to research that idea and report back. It was a pleasure reading 20 essays by women of diversity and finding not one of them focused on ethnicity as an excuse for failures or a reason for success. The common threads that ran through these stories of success were diligent effort despite challenges, high energy, passion, self awareness, family connections, and assertiveness. If you’re a young woman beginning to think about your career and your future, use these examples the way you would an operator’s manual. Let them give you ideas of how to get the job done, whatever the job is. If you’re a woman who can influence a young woman starting out, encourage her to reflect on what these women have been able to do.

These statistics are not reflective of any particular geographic area or branch of the military. They’er across the boards.

In the recruiting process, the recruiter has all the power and intimidation factor. In a single year (last year), Army recruiters topped the list of shame with 35 instances (more than 700 since the end of the 1990s) of discipline for sexual misconduct or inappropriate advance on the young people who came into their offices to explore military careers. Navy scored a dozen and a half, Air Force, an even dozen.

Courage, honor and commitment were part of what drew these potential recruits in. Shame and pain are what they got. In 12 months, 2005-2006, more than 100 women were subjected to sexual advances by their recruiters. Associated Press reports more than 6 dozen recruiters were disciplined last year (not necessarily arrested or imprisoned) for sexual misconduct on young people who came to them for advice and information. There is a significant rise in reported cases over the past decade.

AP confirms by their own investigation that prosecution, civil or military, for these cases is extremely rare. Perpetrators get rank reductions and pay adjustments. The victims, from my personal knowledge, get a life sentence of post-traumatic stress disorder, at the very least.

Look at these factoids:

1. About one and a half billion (BILLION) of our tax dollars go to military recruiting in a year.
2. Recruits are typically between 16 and 18 years old.
3. Sexual advance almost always take place in the recruiters office (where there is zero supervision in many cases), a governement vehicle or the recruiter’s residence. Applicants are often invited home to “get to know” how military people live.
4. Recruiters, in general, encourage applicants to frequent the office and “hang out”
   

You know cash flow matters to business. Monitoring cash flow makes a big difference in women’s personal financial success, as well. Here’s a clear explanation from financial planner Kristine A. McKinley, CPA, CFA, who teaches investing and financial planning.

Cash Flow Monitoring Means Financial Security

You’ve heard it a million times – cash flow can make or break a business. The same can be said of any woman’s personal finances. Without adequate cash flow, you may not be able to pay your bills, do the things that bring you the most joy and satisfaction, or reach important financial goals you’ve set.

What is cash flow planning? Tracking and projecting your cash inflows from wages, self employment income, investments and other income, and comparing to your cash outflows (bills, loan payments, taxes, etc.). The difference between the two is your net cash flow.

Why is cash flow planning important? It means the difference between achieving financial goals or not; whether you’re saving for a down payment on a new house, putting your children through college, or planning to retire early. Careful cash flow planning allows you to make smarter decisions with your money, identify problems down the road and fix them before they occur.

Planning
The first step in planning cash flow is knowing where you spend your money. The best way to track spending is with pen & paper, spreadsheets or a software program. The best method for you is the method that you will actually use on a regular basis. Project your spending for 12 months or more so you include annual and other infrequent expenses. Update your cash flow plan at least monthly. If you are experiencing a cash flow crisis, track and project your cash flow on a weekly basis.

Create best and worst case scenarios and create appropriate responses to both. When estimating income, use conservative estimates if your income fluctuates month-to-month.For example, if your best case is a 50% income increase, how will you use the extra cash? Put it in your retirement plan or spend it on other financial goals? If your worst case scenario is a 50% drop, how will you cover monthly expenses?

By planning best and worst case, you’re ready for anything. Prioritize your financial goals and determine how much you need to reach those goals. Whether you’re saving for a new car or for your retirement, you’ll more likely achieve your goals if you create a road map and follow it. Create “rainy day” and “emergency” funds. Rainy day for infrequent or unusual expenses (car insurance, annual vacation, home improvements). Emergency funds are for short periods of unemployment, unexpected medical expenses and other large surprises. Having money set aside for contingencies means financial dreams aren’t replaced by nightmares.

Watch Your Spending
Focus on your goals and the value each purchase brings. Is it worth the expenditure or will it put a bump on your map to the future? Avoid lavish spending if it means delaying or sabotaging your progress to those goals. Finally, update your cash flow projection regularly. Monitor spending and periodically re-evaluate goals. Remember, for businesses and for you, cash flow planning is one difference between success and failure.

About the Author
Kristine A. McKinley, CFP, CPA, and founder of Beacon Financial Advisors, teaches individuals and families how to invest and plan for retirement, college, and other financial goals. Kristine offers financial and tax planning on an hourly, fee-only basis.