Women in Power: Masculine or Sensitive?

As seen in Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is a character of undeniable spirit.  Although her disposition is meant to be seen as evil and power-hungry, it is obvious that she is passionate and eager in her plan to gain the throne.  In today’s society, it seems that in order for any woman to attain power, she must first release her masculine side on the world.  To become a great leader, one must hide emotions and portray bravery and dominance.  For men, this wouldn’t be a problem, seeing that men often don’t possess the same emotional standards as women.  Women have a tendency to let their emotion spill out of them, whereas men grow a barrier in order to seem strong.  The people want a strong leader, rather than a weak and whiny one.  How can women become leaders if they are so emotional?  Society proclaims that they should mask their emotion and have their masculinity shine forth.  I disagree with this idea.  Women and men are different for countless reasons. A woman is a woman for a reason; she must provide the absent sensitivity when ignorant men dominate.  A woman can be strong and independent without being manly.  For example, Queen Elizabeth was a strong and independent leader who ruled England for 44 years.  She never married because she desired power, yet she was not an overbearing queen.  She was well-liked for her feminine attitude and disposition.  Another example would be the first woman prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who brought the country out of a recession, led a war in defense of the British Falkland Islands, and confronted unions.  Her vigor was evident, yet she didn’t need to grow a mustache and muscles to prove how keen and strong she truly was.  Women do not need to show how masculine and tough they can be in order to gain respect.  Women use their brains in order to win battles.  In recent years of politics in America, Hillary Clinton is a woman who passionately ran for president against our current president, Barak Obama.  Hillary believed that showing her firmer and more manly side would attract voters.  In one article from the New York Times Op-Ed, she was reported crying and showing her “humane” side.  This revelation of her womanhood pulled many voters to sympathize for her and see that she is a person rather than just a candidate.  Woman can be strong while still keeping their God-given ability to show care and sensitivity.