Girls State breaks barriers of female stereotypes

By Marisa Smith

Women’s jobs are associated with nurses, teachers or even stay-at-home mothers.

But women should also be known for their business, media and politics.

It is time to break the barriers of female stereotypes. Programs such South Dakota Girls State encourage women to break these stereotypes.

Though this is a step in the right direction, we need more programs like this. Women should be able to pursue whatever career they want without the thought, “This is a man’s job.”

In 1927, South Dakota elected its first woman into the legislature, Gladys Pyle. It has been 89 years since this accomplishment, but little has changed.

Women fill only 20 percent of legislative seats, even though women make up 52 percent of the voting population.

Women are constantly told government is a man’s job, and that they would be better off if they stayed at home. When these comments are made, younger girls need someone to look up to.

This is because women are starting to believe in the stereotype that they can’t be leaders. The truth is, there are few women who are role models for the younger generation to look up to for guidance.

There are only three reasons that explain why woman don’t make it to the top, according to Curt Rice who wrote the article about the subject.

“Women are not capable of doing the work that is required at the top, women do not have the desire to be at the top and there are structural impediments preventing women from reaching the top,” the article states.

There needs to be a focus on children when they are young. It is time to encourage the young women today so they will be great leaders of tomorrow.