Enough with the chick awards already

Do we really need yet another award pointing out how special and, by extension, how different working women are from, say, working men and, even worse, stay-at-home moms?

I know this isn’t a very popular opinion, but it annoys me that male-only and female-only organizations even exist, never mind the silly awards they give out that further segment certain groups from the rest of society, or in this case, the business world.

Fortune magazine has its 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business. Many business magazines do a “Women to Watch” feature in whatever category they cover. And this time around, it’s not just women but working moms, and it’s not just working moms but working moms in “the dynamic, creative and lucrative field of advertising.” Could we slice this any thinner?

A press release titled “Accolades for Top Ad Moms” arrived today and goes on to explain why advertising needs this new award so much. Each of the honored women knows what it takes “to succeed as a working mother in a high-stress, fast-paced business,” reads the press release. You mean, as opposed to an ER doctor? A high-powered attorney? A NASA physicist?

I’m sure AWNY, the organization that’s putting out this award, does nothing but positive things for women in business. But doesn’t the mere existence of these awards perpetuate the differences between the sexes?

Sorry, girls, but this is just plain silly.

--Posted by Alison Fahey

Photo illustration: Rubberball Productions

November 15, 2004 | Permalink