Article

Personal Interest

WOMEN IN ROTARY

by Sayantan Gupta
Sunday, December 11, 2005. 11:28AM
Technorati Tags:
1,674 Views 7 Comments

When we speak about doctors, lawyers, soldiers, shop-keepers, engineers and such others do we add the prefix lady or gentleman before them? Have we ever heard of Presidentess, politicianess,etc.? Then why do we tend to refer to our fair partners in Rotary as lady Rotarians? Rotary is a 100 year old service organization of business and professional people united worldwide. When we do not bother about the gender of these businesspeople and professionals then why bother within the realms of Rotary? A "Mouse had Roared"- that is how the press hailed the defiant action of RC Duarte who defended valiantly the induction of women in their clubs as active members. That "Roar" threw the Gates open and Rotary became the balanced organization it is today. Yet, today, even when more than twenty years have gone by, we still say 'women Rotarians'. It is a shame really, for I believe that there are no 'men' or 'women' in Rotary - only Rotarians.

(login to vote or comment.)

Comments

 7 shown
Tuesday, December 27, 2005. 07:57AM by Kurt Deutsch
Hi my Rotarian friend. In my Rotary Club ( RC Wien-Gloriette) we are about 50 to 50 male female members. For me it would be unacceptable to be member in a Rotary Club just with male members. Just to explain how to announce female members . In german we say Rotarische Freundin and Rotarischer Freund. Freundin is the female friend, For some Rotarians it is difficult to use this but this is just a question of generation and time.
Sunday, December 18, 2005. 08:01PM by Rita Ruedi
Hi Sayatan, This is nicely said!Yes I agree. I visited only a few weeks ago, in my original hometown in Switzerland a "only men" club. I have been there several times, and I can observe, how they struggle if they want women to join. Some would like, the elder generation not really wants it. And their main question now is: how should we start out? Do we have to start out with several women at the same time? These are there concernts. I will email to them your article.
Thursday, December 15, 2005. 11:29PM by Vishwanath Bhave
Hi Sayantan,I do agree with you but the pendulum should not swing to other side, and form clubs of exclusive lady members only. That too will be a gender domination. Rtn.Vishwanath aaaaaaaabhave.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005. 10:19PM by Maureene Bello
Hi Sayantan, i agree with you. Nice picture.. :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2005. 02:32AM by Florence Hui
You're right, Sayantan!
Monday, December 12, 2005. 09:26PM by Timothy Buckley
Thank you Sayantan, I agree and I am happy to tell you that in our Club (in Vancouver Washington USA) I do not believe I have ever heard a gender prefex referncee used in relation to one of our members (of course it could also be that I am ignorant). We also have the advantage of having a very healthy mix in our club and growing closer to 50/50 each year. I am not sure when our club first admited women (I believe it was quite a long time ago before my time) and now even the "old timers" on the minority side of the vote today admit it was one of the best decisions that was made by our club.
Monday, December 12, 2005. 06:07AM by Jack Selway
Rotary First 100 was the first place on the internet where you could learn about "Women and Rotary." Their early struggle, the women who were involved with Rotary and the first leaders are all included: This section includes the famous women, Jean Thomson Harris, the first governors, and space for the first member of the RI board and the first woman president of RI, yet to come.