Do we need a female president?

One of the most formative experiences of my career was teaching 5th grade. I loved teaching biographies because they brought history to life, imparted timeless lessons, and inspired my students.

I remember teaching about 1967 marathon runner Katherine Switzer, who broke the glass ceiling for women in sports. Katherine was an accomplished athlete, but because women weren’t allowed to run the Boston Marathon, she signed up simply as “KV Switzer.” She created her own blind audition where she was judged on merit, not gender.

Despite attempts by race officials to forcibly remove her from the course, Katherine completed the 26.2 miles in approximately four hours and 20 minutes and later placed first among women in the 1974 New York City Marathon.

All she needed was an opportunity to prove that women can succeed if they are given the chance to do so based on merit, and she earned it through hard work and talent.

New report says State Department should abandon ‘obsession’ with DEI and ‘depoliticize’ it

Let’s ask ourselves honestly: Can all the women who rise to the top today confidently say they achieved it on their own merit? Too many women reach positions of power and success not because of merit or excellence, but because they meet certain requirements in a society obsessed with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

As a mother, educator, and CEO, I can’t help but ask, “What does this teach our children about women? And what does it teach us about ourselves?”

Far from being a feel-good claim about empowering women, DEI hiring ultimately sends the exact opposite message: It teaches society that if the measure of success is merit, then women have no chance of success.

DEI and One of the Biggest Issues Facing Black Americans

This teaching teaches that women cannot rise to positions of power based on their talent, skill, and determination to excel, but that they need help. This teaching lowers standards, forgoes excellence in exchange for false “progress,” and ultimately harms humanity.

I remember explaining to my class that women could do great things if they were given the chance to compete and win on their own merits, and the kids yelled out that it’s unfair to base it on their gender, but that’s exactly what DEI is doing – base it on their gender. Isn’t that unfair too?

Now that I run a company, it doesn’t matter how many men or women sit at the board table. I know I’m here because I worked hard and was talented enough to get there on my own. The opportunities I was given were no different than any man could have, and that was enough.

The DEI debate could point out where diversity naturally occurs

Everyone there, including me, knows that I deserve this job because I worked for it, and most importantly for me, my kids know it too.

But imagine how a woman would feel if she had to sit there wondering if she was only hired to fill an actual or implied politically correct quota. Rather than feeling confident and competent, she would feel humiliated and insecure, like a puppet only dancing because the puppeteer allowed her to. She would know that it wasn’t about her or her abilities, but rather about looking good to others and feeling good about herself.

‘Life and Death’: House Republicans face growing pressure to target DEI in medical schools

And imagine how the public would feel if they wondered if a woman in a position of power got there because of a DEI agenda, rather than because she earned it through merit and excellence. Would they feel confident supporting her leadership decisions, or would they worry that she may not actually be the most qualified and capable person to excel in the job?

Even worse, consider the damage caused by putting unqualified people in key leadership positions like surgeons, pilots, and life-saving jobs. Naturally, we are all beginning to wonder if the quality of our diverse hires is putting our lives at risk.

The long-term impact of DEI hiring on talented women in or about to enter the workforce is alarming: it leaves the public questioning whether certain women are truly deserving of a position, thereby tarnishing the image of talented women leaders overall.

The Left’s War on Meritocracy and the Republican Party’s Fight to Protect the American Dream

Will we have to go back to being pushed to excel again to prove ourselves? Will we have to go back to sneaking in for “blind auditions”?

Let’s reject DEI because it teaches children that women are inherently less capable and can only reach the same level as men with the help of a pedestal. Let’s remind the world that femininity is an important quality, but it does not define our natural talents, work ethic, acquired skills, or ambition.

At this moment in history, we can avoid imposing perpetual bracing on future generations of women. Just as Katherine didn’t need bracing to become one of the greatest female athletes of all time, neither should our political, medical and business leaders.

Click here to read more FOX News Opinion

And no one should be rejected or singled out simply because they are a woman. Success on merit is empowering, with the knowledge that a woman has achieved the top position, and people feel confident in their qualifications to excel in the jobs they have achieved.

No doubt generations of incredible women will rise to the occasion and serve the good of their country and the world.

Click here to get the FOX News app