I hope reading The Rise of Powerful, Influential, and Caring Women will ignite your thoughts and imagination into taking the next steps in turning dreams into reality. On occasion, you may still be defined by gender rather than knowledge, experience, and ability to make a difference. But, don’t wait for the gender storm to pass; learn to dance in the rain. “If it can be done, you can do it!” You now have a choice! It is “The Age of Women.”

It is a great time in history to be a woman!
This book is filled with women who have achieved unthinkable possibilities, such as Clara Furse, mother of three and first woman to lead the male dominated London Stock Exchange, and General Ann Dunwoody, the first woman in U.S. military history to become a Four Star General. Nancy Pelosi is the first woman in U. S. history to be Speaker of the House and second in line to ascend to the U.S. Presidency. And, Ms. Drew Gilpin is the first woman in the 372 year old history of Harvard University to be its president, along with three other women who lead half of America’s eight Ivy League colleges and universities. In other areas of unthinkable possibilities, 38 year old J.K. Rowling, a welfare mother of two, became a billionaire in 2007 from sales of her Harry Potter series of children’s books, and 18 year old Ashley Qualls brings in $50,000 - $75,000 per month from her own website, Whateverlife.com. Not a bad business or monthly allowance for an 18 year-old.

It is time to be a “risk taker, change maker, global thinker, and woman in charge!” After reading this book, you WILL know how!

“She” might be a lady called the “Pie Mom,” Ms. Patty Wilson’s nickname, because she sells pies every day at her Lincoln, Nebraska, hair salon to raise money for physically challenged young adults, including her son. (Pie Mom, 2007) Or, “She” might be a lady named Judy, a single mother of three—all of whom she raised and sent to college by working three jobs. If you don’t believe this takes power, influence, and a genuine caring attitude ……………… Along the way Judy became a fighter and defeated breast cancer.

Purpose and Intent.
First and foremost, the purpose and intent of the book is to demonstrate “The Age of Women” has arrived by presenting a global view of the rise of powerful, influential, and caring women. This book is the first to present the fact, along with supporting evidence, that most of the world is experiencing “The Age of Women.” It is a time of many “firsts,” defined by progress, struggle, frustration, and changing roles in business, government, home, and social settings. It is an age destined to continue into the 21st century and beyond because equality for women is still a work in progress—continually evolving and slowly progressing.

The second purpose of the book is to demonstrate women’s unique collaborative, inclusive, and empowering relationship style as the driving force behind “The Age of Women.” Coincidentally, this age has arrived at a time in history when the global community desperately needs women’s powerful, influential, and caring relationship style to resolve today’s complex issues and those to follow in the future. . . . . . .

Marriage, Lifestyle Trends, and Cougars On The Prowl.
Today’s women do not live to work; they work to live! (Shelton, 2005) As the “Age of Women” arrives in the 21st century, women continue to drive cultural and social revolutions in lifestyles, marriage partnerships, corporate America, and government.

When Dustin Hoffman uttered the famous line: “Mrs. Robinson, you are trying to seduce me” in the 1967 hit movie The Graduate, the Cougar movement was born; it has now come to full fruition. I say—more power to these women. After all, men have been connecting with younger women for decades. Go ladies! It is your turn to “prowl!”

It’s not all good news!
A number of sobering statistics influenced my decision to write this book and bring attention to specific issues impacting women—particularly gender discrimination:

• 80 percent of people living in poverty in the United States are women and children; (United Nations Releases, 2000)

• Two-thirds of all minimum-wage jobs in the U. S. are held by women; (Davidson, 2007)

• Three-fourths of all poor, elderly people in the U. S. are women; (Shouse, 2009)

• Two-thirds of the hours worked in the world are by women, yet they earn only 10 percent of the income; (Johnson, 2009)

• Half the world’s food is produced by women, yet they own only 1 percent of its land; (Johnson, 2009)

• 80 percent of the world’s cheapest labor is performed by women. The exploitation of women as cheap labor is widespread; sweatshops still exist. Thoughts of balancing motherhood with work are seen as unattainable by nearly all of these exploited women; (Brokaw, 2007)

• Millions of women and girls are subjected to physical and sexual abuse. Unfortunately, these incidents are significantly under-reported; (United Nations Releases, 2000)

• It is estimated two-thirds of the world’s 900+ million illiterate adults are women. Two-thirds of the world’s poorest people are female and two-thirds of the world’s uneducated children are girls. (United Nations Releases, 2000)

Finding Balance: From Laundry Rooms, To Boardrooms, To Delivery Rooms!
By day “she” is a corporate executive; by night she is at the washing machine in her laundry room trying to balance the tipping point of work and family life. Many women across the entire spectrum of work (not just corporate executives) manage a household, care for aging parents, raise children, and work full-time jobs. A number of women, especially those who are single, often work at more than one job, which leaves little or no time for hobbies, personal care, or entertainment. Studies reveal the average woman in the United States spends 80 hours per week or more taking care of home and work responsibilities.