Where Are the Hers in Dictators?

Today's interview is with special guest Kailie Cerriston, Distinguished and Particularly Empowered Professor of Women's Studies at You-Know-Where University. Her research focuses on implicit biases in hiring and leadership, and she seeks to inspire women of the future by empowering women of the past by mentioning them briefly in the present.

Prof. Cerriston has just released her new book, "Taking Control: Where Are the Hers in Dictators?" This 1,237.4 page research book seeks to understand the historical biases that determined why the most successful dictators of history were predominantly men.

"Early on in recorded history, there were definitely some strong women who weren't afraid to make a difference," Cerriston told the Weekly. "Cleopatra and Boadicea for example, weren't afraid to step up and be themselves. However, as we continue into the Middle Ages the percentage of women actively pursuing leadership roles are not encouraging. Instead, they were taught to accept traditional female virtues such as grace, nurturing, and humility. Their family environments discouraged many potential dictators from pursuing it as a career. Even for those women who were given the necessary skill-set, (I'm thinking here of Catherine the Great) they chose to exercise their powers behind the throne instead of taking complete control, no doubt due to societal pressures."

We asked Prof. Cerriston what she thinks the main obstacles are, and how they can be overcome in the future. "What's really distressing is that women as a whole just don't seem to be interested in this field as a potential career. We're afraid there's still a lot of implicit bias that tilts the scales towards men choosing the more aggressive, power-hungry roles and women staying at home. Through my research it's clear to me that we're headed towards an age of radical dictatorships regardless. So the pressing question is, how do we emphasize perfect equality and make sure that 80% of these positions are filled by women?"

In conducting our own research, we can't help but agree with the distinguished professor on one point at least: in the latest polls, 81% of women stated they had no interest in future dictatorship roles, and of the remaining 19%, 97% were cat ladies.