Gender bias?

Taking a “look at the key women who are shaping Asia's political and economic landscape" on the occasion of the 100th International Women's Day on 08.03.2010, CNN published a list of eight of Asia’s top power women.

Indra Nooyi, coming in at second place, "lords over some 185,000 corporate minions in close to 200 countries", notes CNN. “Nooyi's hard-as-nails leadership and her sense of fun (one-time lead guitarist in an all-girls rock band still performs regularly at corporate functions) has earned her spots on many 'best leader' lists in the US," it adds.

Being the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Incorporated, she is a Successor Fellow of the Yale Corporation, a Class B director of the Board of Directors of the New York Federal Reserve, and serves as a member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, International Rescue Committee, Catalyst and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Eisenhower Fellowships, and currently serves as Chairperson of the U.S.-India Business Council.

Regardless of all of these achievements and being ranked third on the 2008 and 2009 list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes Magazine, in an article in the Times of India Indra Nooyi has been quoted saying that "most powerful lists’ must be dumped in the garage". She recounts how "in 2001 when I went home to tell my mother about my appointment as the PepsiCo president, she reacted indifferently with a "dead pan" expression." She said, "My mother told me when you enter the house, you are a mom, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law. Next time you come home, leave the crown in the garage."

Could you imagine that any dad on this planet would say the same to his son: "when you enter the house you are a dad, a husband, son, son-in-law"? At least I have never heard of any man having said this when asked how it feels to be on the list of most powerful leaders!

Are people still not ready to acknowledge the accomplishments of women? If someone as powerful as Ms. Nooyi has to put up with these kinds of comments instead of being cheered on her accomplishments, then what can be expected for small achievers?

One wonders when the world will be mature enough to accept the success of a woman outside the four walls of her home without labeling her a “Rabenmutter” (raven mother, after the black bird that pushes chicks out of the nest) at the same time…

More about Indra Nooyi can be found here.