CNN Publishes Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Op-Ed for Centennial of 19th Amendment

In commemoration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which barred denial of the right to vote on the basis of sex, and of Women’s Equality Day, CNN invited what it termed “a renowned set of women leaders,” including Anita Hill, Megan Rapinoe, Melinda Gates, Dolores Huerta and Rep. Lauren Underwood to answer the questions: Where should we be by 2120? And what must we achieve during the next century in America and around the world to realize true and lasting gender equality?

Among these women leaders is Akin Gump senior advisor and former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was the first Latina elected to the U.S. Congress. In her reply, she said, “The most important goal for America is to create a truly equal playing field. The barriers, both explicit and implicit, to equal opportunity for women must be eradicated.” She noted that equal access to positions, jobs and other benefits within society is the answer.

Ros-Lehtinen said that these adjustments “will not come easily because they are achieved at the expense of favorable terms for certain groups, which groups will necessarily lose such prized positions and favorable treatment” and suggested success in this regard be reflected in how corporate boards are composed and the number of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies. She also discussed the disparity between diversity in elective and appointed offices and in large corporations

Ros-Lehtinen closed by stating that the “most telling test” and the goal most difficult to achieve is leadership by women at high levels in large-scale business and industry, which is why, she notes, it takes the longest time. However, she said, “with commitment from all sides, this goal can be achieved in our children’s lifetime and this will have a transformational impact on American society and maintain America’s leadership as the land of opportunity.”

To read the full op-ed, click here.