Highlights of Rowe's research, as well as several articles examining important women's issues, appear in the inaugural edition of Advancing Women in Leadership, the Internet's first on-line, academic journal dedicated to examining and expanding feminine leadership worldwide. The journal is co-edited by Genevieve Brown and Beverly J. Irby, professors of educational leadership at Sam Houston State University.
For her study Rowe interviewed 34 college-educated women whom, as children, participated in "gifted and talented" educational programs. Their common experiences, Rowe found, demonstrate many of the obstacles confronting aspiring women in a traditionally male-dominated society.
Among Rowe's findings:
Rowe's study suggests that many gender barriers confronting women of exceptional abilities could be surmounted if these women flaunt their talents rather than yield to outside pressure to play them down.
"When society discourages women from showing their intelligence, two problems arise," Rowe writes. "Not only are women's abilities hidden, but bright women are literally hidden from one another."
Rowe concludes that it is important for talented women to define and pursue their own goals and to realize that female achievement is not necessarily measured in terms of professional success.
In fact, most of the women participating in Rowe's study defined success in terms of personal fulfillment. High on their list were the rewards received from nurturing children and from balancing a career with a satisfying personal life.
Other articles appearing in the first edition of Advancing Women in Leadership:
"By finding that young women deny these violences, we move toward better understandings of the extent to which women's mistreatment becomes normalized in our society."
"Education for girls in developing countries is not an easy problem to tackle, since it takes money, time, and organization, not to mention support from the government and the immediate community."
"Meeting the challenge of adjusting to a new culture and social life from a professional to a housewife places a great deal of pressure on these educated Chinese women. They have strong desires and motivation to continue their professions, but have not obtained the support necessary to accomplish their goals. As housewives, their social circle is very limited, which leads to isolation in the host culture."
"Women in administration face many challenges in their careers. When the additional characteristics of racial and ethnic differences are included, the challenges increase. The struggle to achieve fair representation and adequate advancement opportunities within school districts is a problem that disturbs minority women."
"It has become increasingly apparent that gender equity in athletics, while in some instances centered on the particulars of Title IX compliance, is about more than that. Gender equity in athletics is about confronting fundamental cultural norms, beliefs and values held by a population who has been historically and traditionally responsible for perpetuating sexism, sex bias and discrimination through a variety of socio-cultural institutions, one of which is the co-curricular activity of school sport."
"The findings showed a drop-off in girls' self-esteem from elementary school (when 60 % reported high self-esteem) to high school (when 29% reported high self-esteem). . . Additionally the poll found differing levels of self-esteem among girls from different ethnic groups."
"We want the journal to expand the global support network for women in leadership positions," Brown said. "The Internet, with a reach transcending national and cultural barriers, offers an exceptional medium for this groundbreaking endeavor."
The academic journal is linked to the Advancing Women web site, an international on-line network for women in the workplace published by Gretchen Glasscock.
The journal's creators plan to post three editions on the Internet each year. The website, Glasscock said, will be accessible, for free, to anyone with basic web-browsing software.
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