Category Archives: Gender

Gender differences, LGBQT

Prof. Anita Hill: Significance of Seat-taking – by Terry Howard

“Are you a scorned woman?” 

That was the “brilliant” question asked to Prof. Anita Hill by Senator Howell Heflin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 1991 confirmation hearing (comprised entirely of graying white men) there to determine the fitness of Clarence Thomas for a seat on the U. S. Supreme Court.

After a three second – “are you kidding me” – pause and throat clearing, the good professor calmly answered, “no I’m not senator!”

Now let’s fast forward 35 years later to a recent Sunday night when Prof. Hill sat stoically across the desk from her interviewer, CNN’s Jake Tapper, to recap the experience and her life since then. On full display during that interview was the sempiternal nature of her professional demeanor that’s seemingly unchanged by time, a steadiness Prof. Hill exhibited during eight hours of blistering grilling by senators, some of whom had questionable backgrounds with respect to their treatment of women. Her poise and unflappability during her interview were textbook. 

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Trump Increases Number of Women Appointees – by David Grinberg

Trump Appoints More Women to Cabinet Than Any Republican President

During Women’s History Month, it’s important to recognize not only how far women in the workplace have come but also how far they still need to go in achieving equal opportunities compared to men.

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Celebrating WOMEN’s History MONTH – By Camm Ashford

Originally published in the Chattanooga News Chronicle

Deborah Levine:
A Woman of History Making History

Multi-dimensional. Purposed. Passionate. Resilient. These words and many more describe Deborah Levine – a woman of history making history as she lives.

A Chattanoogan by choice, the soft-spoken author gave the Chattanooga News Chronicle the honor of an interview for readers to be inspired during Women’s History Month, as well as know the hidden achievers who live in our very own community.

Deborah Levine’s biography features her accomplishments to include the roles of author, writing coach, editor-in-chief, script writer, journalist, and pioneer of cross-cultural leadership. Just as her roles are many so are her passions to learn, study, read, write, communicate, and convey to others tremendous insight and information.

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Renewing Diversity #6: Trans Talk – by Carlos Cortés 

“Can we finally stop talking about trans sports?” read the headline in the February 11, 2025, Los Angeles Times.  Of course this was followed by a column talking about — you guessed it — trans sports.  So the answer is no, we have to keep talking about trans sports for the same reason that people keep climbing mountains: because they are there.

 Four years ago I ended my ADR column on trans sports by positing that “the case of transgender female athletes may pose one of the ultimate tests for diversity advocates because it requires the difficult weighing of competing legitimate equity concerns, with no simple win-win solution in sight.”  I illustrated that conclusion by positing two hypothetical situations.   

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The History of Women in Robotics – by Rose Joneson

Women Groundbreakers in STEM

Women have helped shape various fields throughout history, and their contributions have led to countless innovations. Today, women groundbreakers in the sciences continue to make a significant impact in their respective communities. Take Lulu Copeland, for example, who currently serves as an advisor for the engineering programs of Bryan College in Tennessee and helped establish the Society of Women Engineers student group. Her work has been indispensable in encouraging more women to enter engineering fields.

Continue reading The History of Women in Robotics – by Rose Joneson

I’m Deeply Sorry: My Letter to Six Women – by Terry Howard

I decided to offer a different approach to Women’s History Month 2025 before the celebration ends up on the chopping block by the Trump administration joining African American and other monthly celebrations. 

Now whereas the mind immediately goes to “past” when it conjures up the word “history,” or perhaps “history makers” in the future, my angle in this narrative is to zero in on current history in the form of an apology to women. So this letter of apology is to you “Bernice,” “Rita,” “Evelyn,” “Francine,” “Rosa,” “Alexzandria,” your loved ones and others who depend on each of you emotionally, spiritually and financially for the devastation that’s interrupted your lives.

I’m sorry, deeply sorry. I’m also embarrassed and enraged.

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Misgendering: Is It a Big Deal? – by Julia Wai-Yin So

I live in New Mexico—a liberal state where people respect each other’s gender identity.  It is also a state where everyone, including the members of TNG (transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse) community enjoy the privilege of publicly sharing their preferred gender pronoun or personal gender pronoun (PGP). At any given professional meetings, it is a common practice that people would introduce themselves followed by their PGP. I, on the other hand, rarely mentioned my PGP. I am not a member of the TNG community.  At the same time, I do not see the need to announce my PGP. To me, my gender is no one’s business. If I want others to know my gender, I will introduce myself as such and let others know. As for addressing others, I will respectfully ask when unsure and honor their individuality and dignity. 

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Affluent LGBTQ+ Community – with Toni Peterson

Prioritize Living Fully

Overview of Research: In January 2024, Merrill Wealth Management published three studies examining the financial challenges, concerns and successes of the affluent Black/African American, LGBTQ+ and Hispanic-Latino communities in the United States. “Diverse Viewpoints: Trends Reports” builds on past research and uncovers how these groups navigated a tumultuous economic environment created by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation.

Bank of America partnered with Ipsos who gathered these insights using qualitative and quantitative techniques, including a 2023 survey of 1,000 members each from the affluent Black/African American, Hispanic-Latino and LGBTQ+ communities.   

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Women GroundBreakers & STEM: Lulu Copeland

When Deborah asked me to be part of the Women GroundBreakers Storytelling panel, Serving our Diverse Communities, I knew I had to say yes. She had said yes many times when I reached out. This is my turn. So, here’s my story… (Deborah coached us on telling our story, starting with something easy to share and for others to absorb, consider something that might shock people…then try to blend into something somewhere between the two.)

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Women GroundBreakers Storytelling: Serving Diverse Communities

On March 7, 2024 we celebrated Women’s History Month with a panel of Women Groundbreakers whose work locally and globally serving diverse communities will Inspire & Instruct. Facilitated by Deborah Levine and sponsored by the American Diversity Report and G100 Women Leaders, the panel shared their expertise and experience. CLICK to hear their WUTC interviews.

**CLICK for PANEL RECORDING**

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