Women in Power CL

With the 1992 election around the c orner, this examination of women in power is particularly timely. Cantor and Bernay (co-editors of The Psychology of Today's Woman ) and freelance writer Stoess interviewed 25 prominent American female politicians--including Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Gov. Ann Richards of Texas and Congresswoman Pat Schroeder of Colorado--to identify common traits that led to their success. Not surprisingly, the authors discovered that women work harder than their male colleagues in order to be taken seriously as leaders and that the ``old boys network'' makes it difficult to crash the political glass ceiling. Cantor and Bernay conclude that ``Competent Self,'' ``Creative Aggression'' and ``WomanPower'' (a concept of power that integrates female qualities) are three elements found in the women leaders. Many of the women defined power as ``the ability to get things done'' or to ``make other people's lives better.'' Other findings that challenge widely held beliefs: the vast majority were married and had children, and as few as 20% came from wealthy families. The authors also suggest ways women can empower themselves and their daughters. Author tour. (Mar.)