The irony lately is that I am gearing up for more graduate classes in Public Administration. I just got my syllabus for Administrative Ethics, starting in 2 weeks and then at the latter part of June, Women, Power & Leadership in Organizations. Bill Doyle’s final in American Politics was last Monday.
As I navigate my way thought trash-gate, I had an epiphany. I have been reaching out to individuals for support and guidance though this process. My select-board, one or two allies on the board, the town administrator, a lawyer; which all turn out to be male. I did not reach out to a women for guidance . I thought a bully is a bully. No gender specificity here. However I think need to change that thinking. I wonder if male advice for how a female should respond is the best point of view? Perhaps if I was trying to be male, it would make sense. But not if I want to maintain my own character.
It has been stated by some, that I was put on the board by Morristown because I was a women and that I am there for some great feminist cause. I see it much differently. I am there to do the business of the district and to be there representing my town. The fact is that my gender should have nothing to do with it. I guess I am in shock that it obviously does.
I am up to my eyeballs in reading, getting ready for the first class. Class is a rocket ride of 5 full days, covering 3 books and about 100 pages of handouts. The handouts came a couple of days ago with stirring titles like: Moral Courage, Ethics and Environmental Policy in Democratic Governance, The Making of a Whistleblower and the Importance of Ethical Autonomy, Ethical managers making their own rules. How timely.
Here is the other epiphany. For each step in my journey, I have always been given, though providence, the correct tools to deal with the life lesson. I might not always recognize the tools, nor choose to take them up, but everything I need is there for me. I am finding some comfort in that today.
