Caroline Kennedy sure is some woman!
Just days before the 50th anniversary of her father President John F. Kennedy’s assassination (which happened Nov 22, 1963), Ms. Kennedy took a huge step forward in her own diplomatic career – and a huge leap forward for women everywhere. She arrived at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace in a maroon horse-drawn carriage and was welcomed by Emperor Akihito as the first woman to ever serve as US Ambassador to Japan.
And this is Japan we’re talking about – the country that has made a career out of marginalizing women, and where (in 2010) females only occupied 6.2% of top management positions in private Japanese firms, and (in 2011) only 0.8% of town and village mayorships.
But then again we’re also talking about a mother of three who first aided in President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign before receiving this post. When first given the appointment in September, Ms. Kennedy remarked:
“I am conscious of my responsibility to uphold the ideals he represented – a deep commitment to public service, a more just America and a more peaceful world.”
Caroline Kennedy
Well, if anyone can do it, she can!
Breaking down gender barriers in such a patriarchal country and all throughout the world makes Ms. Caroline Kennedy one bad-ass lady, and a real bonafide Tough Cookie!
