Wins for women in the 2010s

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  •  On March of 2013, President Obama named Julia Pierson as the first female Director of the Secret Service. Pierson, formerly the Service’s chief of staff will take over for Mark Sullivan, who many may recall was caught up in a prostitution scandal last year.In his announcement of the new director, the president said of Pierson, "Over her 30 years of experience with the Secret Service, Julia has consistently exemplified the spirit and dedication the men and women of the service demonstrate every day. "
  •  A report by the American Council on Education states that for 2011 graduates, the college enrollment rate was 72.3 % for young women and 64.6% for young men. Similarly, women outnumbered men in graduate school enrollment by 9%. The dropout rate is also reportedly higher among male students.This means that in 2015 and beyond, there will be a greater number of women holding degrees than men.
  •  This teenage, Pakistani blogger and activist risked her life for women’s rights to education, and is one of this years Nobel Peace Prize nominees.Yousafazi was shot in October 2012 in Pakistan because of her revolutionary blog and was flown to the UK for treatment. Earlier this year, she was admitted to a school in Birmingham, England rather than her homeland, to obtain the education she so greatly desires and deserves.Of the 835 individuals and 21 organizations who have received the Nobel Prize between 1901 and 2012,43 women in total have been awarded, that is about 5%. Yousafzai would be the youngest Nobel Prize recipient ever. If she wins the award, it will be global win for women.
  •  Since the 2012 election, 20 female senatorsare now hold office. A groundbreaking statistic considering only 44 woman have ever served in the United States Senate. In the past, most of the women who held office did so as short-term appointees who simply finished up their late husband’s terms.The presence of women can only prove beneficial for political progress. According to a recent article in the American Journal of Political Science that indicates that women are more effective politicians than their male counterparts. The study found that, over the course of 30 years, minority party woman were more successful than minority party men at keeping sponsored bills alive.
  •  In January of 2013, the Pentagon lifted its ban on women in combat roles. This was a huge step toward gender equality in the military, as it removed the glass ceiling that would prevent female soldiers from attaining the same career potential as men in the same position. While not all women [or men] will meet the physically demanding criterion necessary to fill these roles, they will no longer be prevented from trying.In reference to the this, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated, "Not everyone is going to be able to be a combat soldier. But everyone is entitled to a chance."
Women on the front lines
Photo: Chip Somodevilla

Women on the front lines

In January of 2013, the Pentagon lifted its ban on women in combat roles. This was a huge step toward gender equality in the military, as it removed the glass ceiling that would prevent female soldiers from attaining the same career potential as men in the same position. While not all women [or men] will meet the physically demanding criterion necessary to fill these roles, they will no longer be prevented from trying.

In reference to the this, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated, "Not everyone is going to be able to be a combat soldier. But everyone is entitled to a chance."

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Nadia Kouri is a member of Examiner.com's editorial team. As media junky and social media enthusiast, she's always abreast of the latest trends.