I did it with you the daughter could study anything either humanities or
study anything either humanities or
study anything either humanities or Sciences but I advised her to take
Sciences but I advised her to take
Sciences but I advised her to take humanities since it will be much easier
humanities since it will be much easier
humanities since it will be much easier on her
on her
on her so say my high school teacher is my
so say my high school teacher is my
so say my high school teacher is my mother in front of me easier that was
mother in front of me easier that was
mother in front of me easier that was exactly what I had to hear in order to
exactly what I had to hear in order to
exactly what I had to hear in order to decide right there and then that I will
decide right there and then that I will
decide right there and then that I will take sciences the science class was
take sciences the science class was
take sciences the science class was small only 22 students whom just told
small only 22 students whom just told
small only 22 students whom just told them were girls
them were girls
them were girls Maithili her mother was a chemistry
Maithili her mother was a chemistry
Maithili her mother was a chemistry teacher and myself the daughter of our
teacher and myself the daughter of our
teacher and myself the daughter of our social worker well with the only two
social worker well with the only two
social worker well with the only two girls that could have taken sciences not
girls that could have taken sciences not
girls that could have taken sciences not at all but other girls didn’t have a
at all but other girls didn’t have a
at all but other girls didn’t have a role model like Margaret’s mother and
role model like Margaret’s mother and
role model like Margaret’s mother and they certainly didn’t have my rebellious
they certainly didn’t have my rebellious
they certainly didn’t have my rebellious adventures genes at 14 I was already
adventures genes at 14 I was already
adventures genes at 14 I was already sure that I will be a genetic researcher
sure that I will be a genetic researcher
sure that I will be a genetic researcher I was really fascinated by the human
I was really fascinated by the human
I was really fascinated by the human cell and especially during cell division
cell and especially during cell division
cell and especially during cell division were pairs of chromosome exchange parts
were pairs of chromosome exchange parts
were pairs of chromosome exchange parts with each other in order to sew Sade my
with each other in order to sew Sade my
with each other in order to sew Sade my biology teacher increased variability in
biology teacher increased variability in
biology teacher increased variability in the world I was determined to find the
the world I was determined to find the
the world I was determined to find the secret behind this really really amazing
secret behind this really really amazing
secret behind this really really amazing explanation at the end of my biology
explanation at the end of my biology
explanation at the end of my biology studies at the University the first year
studies at the University the first year
studies at the University the first year I decided to switch into medicine my
I decided to switch into medicine my
I decided to switch into medicine my mother was at all not happy she
mother was at all not happy she
mother was at all not happy she maintained that medicine is a very tough
maintained that medicine is a very tough
maintained that medicine is a very tough profession on a woman raising a family
profession on a woman raising a family
profession on a woman raising a family and that biology teacher gets
and that biology teacher gets
and that biology teacher gets applications that really caters to the
applications that really caters to the
applications that really caters to the needs of mothers hearing here I knew
needs of mothers hearing here I knew
needs of mothers hearing here I knew that I have made the right decision
that I have made the right decision
that I have made the right decision still how many young women makes their
still how many young women makes their
still how many young women makes their career choices based on society’s
career choices based on society’s
career choices based on society’s expectation with our based on the
expectation with our based on the
expectation with our based on the presidents that they have to cater to
presidents that they have to cater to
presidents that they have to cater to their quota quote natural wall is wives
their quota quote natural wall is wives
their quota quote natural wall is wives and mothers I didn’t realize it I was a
and mothers I didn’t realize it I was a
and mothers I didn’t realize it I was a feminist in fact at the time I even
feminist in fact at the time I even
feminist in fact at the time I even didn’t know what feminism was all about
didn’t know what feminism was all about
didn’t know what feminism was all about I was making my own choices I did what
I was making my own choices I did what
I was making my own choices I did what was good for me I was very much engaged
was good for me I was very much engaged
was good for me I was very much engaged in clinical research in studying in
in clinical research in studying in
in clinical research in studying in teaching in medical academics as well
teaching in medical academics as well
teaching in medical academics as well but then when I was a pediatric resident
but then when I was a pediatric resident
but then when I was a pediatric resident I first recognized gender discrimination
I first recognized gender discrimination
I first recognized gender discrimination a colleague more than ten years older
a colleague more than ten years older
a colleague more than ten years older than I was shared with me her
than I was shared with me her
than I was shared with me her frustration over not being promoted to a
frustration over not being promoted to a
frustration over not being promoted to a professor but at the same time much
professor but at the same time much
professor but at the same time much younger and less academically
younger and less academically
younger and less academically accomplished male has made it very
accomplished male has made it very
accomplished male has made it very easily to professorship she was denied
easily to professorship she was denied
easily to professorship she was denied again and again based on the excuse that
again and again based on the excuse that
again and again based on the excuse that her CV was not ripe yet for promoting to
her CV was not ripe yet for promoting to
her CV was not ripe yet for promoting to associate professor I’ll tell you I was
associate professor I’ll tell you I was
associate professor I’ll tell you I was furious I called the chairman of the
furious I called the chairman of the
furious I called the chairman of the promotion committee of the Medical
promotion committee of the Medical
promotion committee of the Medical School and I asked for a meeting and I
School and I asked for a meeting and I
School and I asked for a meeting and I showed him there him CV because
showed him there him CV because
showed him there him CV because previously I will noticed that it wasn’t
previously I will noticed that it wasn’t
previously I will noticed that it wasn’t really ready and ripe for associate
really ready and ripe for associate
really ready and ripe for associate professor it was in fact ripe for a full
professor it was in fact ripe for a full
professor it was in fact ripe for a full professorship so I have sold him the CV
professorship so I have sold him the CV
professorship so I have sold him the CV he glanced at it and he said well I’ll
he glanced at it and he said well I’ll
he glanced at it and he said well I’ll take care of it but nothing happened so
take care of it but nothing happened so
take care of it but nothing happened so about a month later I called him again
about a month later I called him again
about a month later I called him again and I told him that this was gender
and I told him that this was gender
and I told him that this was gender discrimination and that I’m not going to
discrimination and that I’m not going to
discrimination and that I’m not going to let the issue go so what did he say to
let the issue go so what did he say to
let the issue go so what did he say to me he said if you are a very promising
me he said if you are a very promising
me he said if you are a very promising young faculty don’t let feminism ruin
young faculty don’t let feminism ruin
young faculty don’t let feminism ruin your career
your career
your career particular story actually had a very
particular story actually had a very
particular story actually had a very happy ending with my colleague being
happy ending with my colleague being
happy ending with my colleague being promoted to associate professor in
promoted to associate professor in
promoted to associate professor in record time and I was realizing that I
record time and I was realizing that I
record time and I was realizing that I was a feminist no I was the same person
was a feminist no I was the same person
was a feminist no I was the same person I was the same person striving for equal
I was the same person striving for equal
I was the same person striving for equal opportunities equal right like I did
opportunities equal right like I did
opportunities equal right like I did realize and understood that apparently
realize and understood that apparently
realize and understood that apparently when you are asking for those rights for
when you are asking for those rights for
when you are asking for those rights for half of humanities that are women you
half of humanities that are women you
half of humanities that are women you are a feminist well if being a feminist
are a feminist well if being a feminist
are a feminist well if being a feminist was acutely aware of the obstacles both
was acutely aware of the obstacles both
was acutely aware of the obstacles both physical and emotional that women are
physical and emotional that women are
physical and emotional that women are encountering during their career then
encountering during their career then
encountering during their career then yes indeed I became a patient as
yes indeed I became a patient as
yes indeed I became a patient as families not the one who burns bras but
families not the one who burns bras but
families not the one who burns bras but one that nevertheless is very much
one that nevertheless is very much
one that nevertheless is very much committed to the cause of equality in
committed to the cause of equality in
committed to the cause of equality in general and women equality wherever they
general and women equality wherever they
general and women equality wherever they are and especially in academia in
are and especially in academia in
are and especially in academia in medicine so I was a pediatrician a
medicine so I was a pediatrician a
medicine so I was a pediatrician a neonatologists
neonatologists
neonatologists a medical geneticist with a syndrome a
a medical geneticist with a syndrome a
a medical geneticist with a syndrome a genetic syndrome – her name obviously
genetic syndrome – her name obviously
genetic syndrome – her name obviously full professor but when I dare one for
full professor but when I dare one for
full professor but when I dare one for the deanship of the medical school
the deanship of the medical school
the deanship of the medical school against for male candidates I was first
against for male candidates I was first
against for male candidates I was first a woman whose spirits were too short so
a woman whose spirits were too short so
a woman whose spirits were too short so Sade one of the very senior professors
Sade one of the very senior professors
Sade one of the very senior professors hinting that I wasn’t fit for the job
hinting that I wasn’t fit for the job
hinting that I wasn’t fit for the job and believe it or not he said that I
and believe it or not he said that I
and believe it or not he said that I slept my way through the right beds in
slept my way through the right beds in
slept my way through the right beds in order to get to where I was and also
order to get to where I was and also
order to get to where I was and also some of them have heard this kind of
some of them have heard this kind of
some of them have heard this kind of thing about successful women well I’m
thing about successful women well I’m
thing about successful women well I’m ready to the deanship after a very
ready to the deanship after a very
ready to the deanship after a very furious campaign really very fierce with
furious campaign really very fierce with
furious campaign really very fierce with three male candidates only against the
three male candidates only against the
three male candidates only against the advice of a colleague I put women
advice of a colleague I put women
advice of a colleague I put women promotion on my ten item list for a
promotion on my ten item list for a
promotion on my ten item list for a revision document for this position
revision document for this position
revision document for this position because if you were a woman just make it
because if you were a woman just make it
because if you were a woman just make it to the top
to the top
to the top which would actually work your way very
which would actually work your way very
which would actually work your way very very meticulously to make sure that
very meticulously to make sure that
very meticulously to make sure that women get equal opportunities and that
women get equal opportunities and that
women get equal opportunities and that they encounter their obstacles and that
they encounter their obstacles and that
they encounter their obstacles and that they get the women friendly environment
they get the women friendly environment
they get the women friendly environment in order for them to thrive in order for
in order for them to thrive in order for
in order for them to thrive in order for them to bring out the whole potential
them to bring out the whole potential
them to bring out the whole potential you should provide those women and one
you should provide those women and one
you should provide those women and one model but you should also work very very
model but you should also work very very
model but you should also work very very hard and I promise you really hard in
hard and I promise you really hard in
hard and I promise you really hard in order to make sure that we are catering
order to make sure that we are catering
order to make sure that we are catering to those obstacles and to the needs they
to those obstacles and to the needs they
to those obstacles and to the needs they have and only this will enable them to
have and only this will enable them to
have and only this will enable them to really fulfill what they can really do
really fulfill what they can really do
really fulfill what they can really do and they can do a lot because this still
and they can do a lot because this still
and they can do a lot because this still cannot be taken for granted
cannot be taken for granted
cannot be taken for granted it is a male-dominated world and women
it is a male-dominated world and women
it is a male-dominated world and women that made it to the top should really
that made it to the top should really
that made it to the top should really take the leap and change the rules a
take the leap and change the rules a
take the leap and change the rules a year into my time as a university
year into my time as a university
year into my time as a university president I met with the chairman of the
president I met with the chairman of the
president I met with the chairman of the planning and budgeting committee of the
planning and budgeting committee of the
planning and budgeting committee of the Council of Higher Education I asked him
Council of Higher Education I asked him
Council of Higher Education I asked him to address the issue of the small
to address the issue of the small
to address the issue of the small percentage of women in the academia and
percentage of women in the academia and
percentage of women in the academia and especially in higher academic ranks in
especially in higher academic ranks in
especially in higher academic ranks in face by the way of their equal
face by the way of their equal
face by the way of their equal representations at the undergraduate and
representations at the undergraduate and
representations at the undergraduate and graduate student body it would mean
graduate student body it would mean
graduate student body it would mean asked me which God do you think that we
asked me which God do you think that we
asked me which God do you think that we have really dealt successfully with all
have really dealt successfully with all
have really dealt successfully with all the pressing issues of higher education
the pressing issues of higher education
the pressing issues of higher education in Israel I said no but this was
in Israel I said no but this was
in Israel I said no but this was certainly one of them I’ll tell you his
certainly one of them I’ll tell you his
certainly one of them I’ll tell you his smile was a mixture of empathy and pity
smile was a mixture of empathy and pity
smile was a mixture of empathy and pity as well so I waited I waited until it
as well so I waited I waited until it
as well so I waited I waited until it was my time to become the chairman of
was my time to become the chairman of
was my time to become the chairman of the committee of university presidents
the committee of university presidents
the committee of university presidents in Israel in that capacity I could no
in Israel in that capacity I could no
in Israel in that capacity I could no longer be ignored
longer be ignored
longer be ignored and the issue of women promotion
and the issue of women promotion
and the issue of women promotion academia was set as a long-term goal by
academia was set as a long-term goal by
academia was set as a long-term goal by the Council of higher education with
the Council of higher education with
the Council of higher education with various projects to be implemented with
various projects to be implemented with
various projects to be implemented with various goals to be
various goals to be
various goals to be and what is more important and very
and what is more important and very
and what is more important and very important in line on every University
important in line on every University
important in line on every University operating budget making this topic
operating budget making this topic
operating budget making this topic a legitimate one to address and act upon
a legitimate one to address and act upon
a legitimate one to address and act upon so with all that has been achieved in
so with all that has been achieved in
so with all that has been achieved in the world landing on the moon cracking
the world landing on the moon cracking
the world landing on the moon cracking the DNA code the computer the cell phone
the DNA code the computer the cell phone
the DNA code the computer the cell phone AR you name it
AR you name it
AR you name it women in equality still remained an
women in equality still remained an
women in equality still remained an unintentional reality it was calculated
unintentional reality it was calculated
unintentional reality it was calculated that it will take 38 years for gender
that it will take 38 years for gender
that it will take 38 years for gender equality in an evolutionary way you just
equality in an evolutionary way you just
equality in an evolutionary way you just wait and see and it will happen in 30
wait and see and it will happen in 30
wait and see and it will happen in 30 years can we allow the world to deprive
years can we allow the world to deprive
years can we allow the world to deprive itself from the contribution of women’s
itself from the contribution of women’s
itself from the contribution of women’s talents great talent to every field and
talents great talent to every field and
talents great talent to every field and aspect of life the answer by both women
aspect of life the answer by both women
aspect of life the answer by both women and men should be an unequivocal no by
and men should be an unequivocal no by
and men should be an unequivocal no by the burden and the responsibility of
the burden and the responsibility of
the burden and the responsibility of always maintaining this topic on the
always maintaining this topic on the
always maintaining this topic on the agenda is the sole responsibility of
agenda is the sole responsibility of
agenda is the sole responsibility of women who made it to rest oh thank
women who made it to rest oh thank
women who made it to rest oh thank [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment