scorecard15 important jobs women have yet to hold in the US
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15 important jobs women have yet to hold in the US

President of the United States

15 important jobs women have yet to hold in the US

Vice president of the United States

Vice president of the United States

Geraldine Anne Ferraro, a lawyer, Democratic Party politician, and member of the US House of Representatives, became the first female vice-presidential candidate for a major American political party in 1984. Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale selected her to be his running mate in the election against Republican candidate Ronald Reagan; they lost.

Since then, Sarah Palin has been the only female vice presidential candidate of a major party; she lost in 2008 with running mate and Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Head coach of a major sports team

Head coach of a major sports team

In 2014, Becky Hammon became the first full-time female coach in the NBA, as well as the first full-time female coach in any of the four major professional sports in the US, as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

More women have taken on coaching roles since then, including Nancy Lieberman, who is an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings, and Jennifer Welter, the NFL's first female coach. But none have ascended to the position of head coach of a major sports team yet.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice of the US Supreme Court. Since then, three other women have become justices: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. No woman has yet ascended the ranks from justice to chief justice.

Director of the FBI or Director of the CIA

Director of the FBI or Director of the CIA

‪Since its founding in 1908, the FBI has been led by 18 directors, none of which have been women. Similarly, of the 19 directors that have led the CIA and the Intelligence Community since 1946, all have been men.

Lisa Monaco, who was named President Obama's counterterrorism adviser in 2013, was said to be on the short list for FBI director as a replacement for Robert S. Mueller that year, but the job went to James B. Comey, the current director.

Another intelligence agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, saw its first female director, Letitia A. Long, take the lead in 2010.

Senate Majority Leader

Senate Majority Leader

Of the thousands of people who have served in the US Senate since the US Congress convened in 1789, only 46 have been women, not including the four women Senator-elects who will take office in January. None have yet been elected to serve as the chief Senate spokesperson for their political party by their respective party caucuses.

Catholic clergy

Catholic clergy

In the Catholic Church, only men can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders, through which they become members of the clergy as bishops, priests, or deacons.

Nuns are not members of the clergy, since they do not receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

It may be a while before the US sees a female chairman or member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

To become a member, you must be tapped by the president and approved by the Senate. Members tend to be decorated, four-star officers with combat command experience. There are a few female fourstar officers, including Adm. Michelle Howard of the Navy, who commanded the Captain Phillips hostage situation, and is the first African American to rise to that rank, and Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the first woman to achieve four-star rank in any service.

Women were barred by the Department of Defense from serving in combat until 2013, and and not until this year did the department open all combat jobs to women.

Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury, or Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Treasury, or Secretary of Veterans Affairs

In 1933, Frances Perkins became the first woman to serve as a cabinet member, under Franklin Roosevelt, as the secretary of Labor. Since then, 47 other women have held a cabinet or cabinet-level appointments in US history.

The only cabinet-level positions a woman has yet to hold are secretary of defense, secretary of treasury, and secretary of veterans affairs.

Governor of 23 US states

Governor of 23 US states

No woman has ever been a governor of these 23 US states:

California, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Maine.

In 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman in the US to be elected governor, and since then 37 other women have served as governor.

CEO of a top-5 Fortune 500 company

CEO of a top-5 Fortune 500 company

Based on total revenues for their respective fiscal years, Fortune magazine ranks the most powerful companies in the US. The top five companies in 2015 were McKesson (No. 5), Berkshire Hathaway (No. 4), Apple (No. 3), Exxon Mobil (No. 2), and Walmart (No. 1), none of which have been run by men.

Coming in at No. 6 on the list, however, is General Motors, which now has Mary Barra at the helm.

UN secretary-general

UN secretary-general

Since electing its first secretary-general in 1946, the UN has yet to see a woman lead the intergovernmental organization. The UN has had eight secretaries-general, including Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

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